Melksham Rugby Club is to abandon plans for a new home and instead will move to the south of the town with the football club.

The club had planned to move to Dunch Lane, on the former George Ward School site, as part of the campus development at Melksham House.

But plans will be unveiled at the next Melksham Area Board meeting for a new base on Woolmore Road, alongside the new Melksham Football Club HQ.

Melksham Area Board vice-chairman Cllr Jonathon Seed, said: “We have been in negotiations with the football and rugby clubs with some work to reach a solution which they are now both very happy with.

“It will provide excellent facilities on the edge of Melksham.”

Both clubs are to share the site, to the north of Melksham Oak Community School, but they will have separate facilities.

Area board chairman Cllr Jon Hubbard said: “They will each maintain their absolute independence with their own facilities, pitches and bars.”

It is understood the change came about after concerns were raised by Wiltshire Council regarding flooding at Dunch Lane, and that plans will be submitted within the next few weeks.

Rugby club vice-chairman Bruce Sanders said: “We are working with a positive attitude with the council to achieve the best for rugby, football and everyone concerned.

Melksham Football Club chairman Dave Wiltshire said: “I do understand the rugby is coming up to us. It’s in a shared area but it’s not going to be a shared ground.”

The meeting, which takes place at the Assembly Hall on October 9 at 2pm, will also confirm the date of the closure of Melksham House.