Corsham's Mansion House will be transformed into a digital hub by 2017 if plans are approved by Wiltshire Council.

Next month a design team will meet and a planning application is expected to be submitted by April.

Around £2m – that’s 63 per cent of the total cost – is being invested into the project by the government. Wiltshire Council has pledged resources of £1.5m with the rest to come from the businesses that get involved.

The project aims to help people, including ex-military personnel, build on their skills and also to support start-up businesses in the computer industry. At least 133 jobs will be created initially followed by an additional 73 once the project is running.

There will be 11 specialist office units in the building with space for 42 small and medium enterprises in the digital sector. Around 50 per cent of the space is expected to be used in the first year, reaching 100 per cent by the third.

Wiltshire Council will oversee the construction of the project and will retain ownership of the Grade II listed building, and revenue will be created by renting out the office units and meeting and teaching rooms.

Chippenham MP Duncan Hames, who represents Corsham, said it will bring opportunities which will enable the town to continue building on its thriving digital industry.

He said: “It provides the chance to reach out to people, to new entrepreneurs, who wouldn’t otherwise have access to digital means.”

Ruth Hopkinson, chairman of Corsham Town Council, said she is delighted the historic building would be back in use and become an asset to the town.

She added: “We believe it is the start of a great future for Corsham.”

Fleur de Rhé-Philipe, Wiltshire Council cabinet member for economic development, skills and strategic transport, said: “It’s a very exciting project and it has started to move very quickly.”