Preparation works are set to get under way at the Melksham House site this week, which will mark the next step of the historic building becoming a "flexible workspace and multi-purpose facility for the community".

The work, which see the building site being set-up, will be carried out by Beard Construction.

Full construction will get under way in early September, with work expected to be completed by winter 2023.

Efforts will be made to keep any disruption to locals to a minimum and the work taking place will not impact Melksham Community Campus.

At the end of 2021 Wiltshire Council’s Cabinet agreed to release £2.8m funding, along with the £2m that was already in place, to refurbish and redevelop the Melksham House site, as well as demolish the Blue Pool.

When complete, the refurbishment work will provide flexible office and meeting room spaces, and the community hall at the rear of the building will be restored to create multi-use activity spaces.

The improvements will include modern sustainable technologies such as LED lighting, air source heat pumps, photovoltaics and electric vehicle charging points. Planning consent was granted in October 2021.

At the start of the year, preparatory demolition took place, which included the demolition of newer parts of the building.