PLANS for a new coroner’s court in Salisbury have been submitted to Wiltshire Council.

Wiltshire Council has applied for a change of use to provide new accommodation for the coroner, including two court rooms, associated offices and ancillary accommodation at a former council office building in Endless Street.

Currently the coroner’s court and office is in Castle Street and Wiltshire Council lets the coroner use Trowbridge Town Hall for bigger jury inquests.

However the Castle Street building doesn’t meet health and safety standards and the council wants to get rid of Trowbridge Town Hall as part of its capital asset programme. The new court would accommodate the smaller and bigger inquests in one location.

The proposals are for numbers 26 and 28 Endless Street, which is near the corner with Bedwin Street.

The properties are thought to have been built in the early 19th century.

In their design statement the council has said it will keep the work to a minimum, partly due to budget constraints, but also to protect any historic fabric within the building. The work will include forming a ramped access at the rear entrance, two accessible toilets and a small platform lift as well as separating number 26 from the other neighbouring property which would then be sold on the open market for residential development.

Salisbury City Council’s planning and transportation committee has raised no objections and there has been no objection from highways or the conservation officer. A decision is expected to be made by August 22.