THE owners of the Castle Place shopping centre have refused to confirm or deny that a ‘substantial investment’ in the centre is on the cards, as rumours circulate among tenants and local businesses.

The Wiltshire Times understands that property consultants Cushman & Wakefield, which also owns the St Stephen’s Place complex across the road and took over the management of Castle Place in December, is lining up a major redevelopment but as yet no details have been released.

This week traders in the ground floor market said they have been kept in the dark regarding a potential development but feel things are looking bright for the area.

Landlord Tino Polledri, who owns a number of businesses in Castle Street, said: “I was told by someone the company that bought Castle Place has plans to make a substantial investment but I am unable to say who.

“I have no idea whatsoever what the development will entail if it does go ahead.”

An upmarket steak and lobster eatery has just opened in one of his buildings, run by Hemi Tieman, who said: “We don’t think people should have to travel to Bath for a nice meal and decent cocktails so we’ve based ourselves on the kind of bar you would find in Bath or London.

“This is an exciting period for us and this area of Trowbridge as a whole.”

Castle Place manager Julie Davis and a spokesman from Cushman & Wakefield said they were not able to comment on the rumours.

Meanwhile market traders feel things are going well for them, with a new delicatessen due to open in the coming weeks, and two stalls, Sweet Sensations and Fonesolutions, expanding.

Maria Turner, 52, owner of clothing shop Head 2 Toe, said: “Everyone worries after a takeover but it might mean we get more stalls down here.

“We sometimes feel like the town council doesn’t put up enough of a fight to help independent businesses like us – there needs to be a more positive attitude towards the market to get more people shopping down here.

“There are days that are really quiet but we're a strong community and we all help each other out.”

Fonesolutions owner Andy Smith has bought items including Kodak printers from camera shop Clive’s Cameras, which closes on Saturday in the upstairs mall, and hopes it will encourage more shoppers to visit the market.

A stallholder who wanted to remain anonymous said: “Business is going well but we are being kept in the dark by the market's managers.

“We are paying rent so it's only fair we know what the plans are for the market, as we are living in uncertainty at the moment.

“The place needs a big revamp, there’s no denying that. We have heard the rumours that they plan to close the market but hopefully the fact new stalls are opening means that isn’t true.”

Toby Carvery has announced it will open in the Cradle Bridge Retail Park, next to Odeon, on Monday, May 22 and Greggs will open on Tuesday, May 16. It is not yet known when M&S Foodhall will open.