CREATING people-friendly streets, improving our open spaces, maximising vibrancy, enhancing buildings, and giving the city a “clear” identity are just some of the options civic and county leaders have identified to help Salisbury “thrive”.

It comes after the leader of Wiltshire Council Philip Whitehead said last week that the city needs to get ready for change, while introducing Salisbury’s Central Area Framework.

These “ambitious plans” will look to boost and bolster the city centre’s retail, cultural and night-time economy, he added.

Now the county council has revealed the deeper meanings of each of those five ‘pillars’, which a new project team, the Salisbury Place Board, will be tasked at delivering.

One of the key sections proposed by the council is the “Creating Vibrancy” pillar.

The council has noted that this will “give residents and visitors an experience through the activities that happen in addition to the day-to-day retail, leisure and service offer which they really enjoy, want to repeat, and recommend to others”.

To do this, the creation of mixed-use developments is proposed for currently empty or redundant retail units, as well as improving the city centre with a revised “retail policy” and also to encourage store owners to “efficiently” use vacant upper floors of buildings, either for residential or business use.

The enhancement of the railway station, including the redevelopment of the forecourt has also been tabled, to “improve the experience” for visitors and commuters.

The Maltings development also falls under this section, as does the enhancement of the Cultural Quarter.

Another key task identified is ‘creating people-friendly streets’.

This, the council says, is “to make the central area a better place for people to make around safely, comfortably, and in an environment with reduced noise and air pollution”. As well as this, the council says there will be “prioritised spaces for pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport users”.

This includes improving the quality and frequency of the city’s park and ride services and to also “consolidate” car parking in the city centre.

The council explains that this will be to “reduce congestion” in Salisbury, without affecting residential spaces.

Salt Lane and Brown Street are the two sites identified for redevelopment.

“Improving open space and the environment” is the second pillar.

The council says this is to ensure “the delivery of a connected river park through the city centre and to improve connections between the existing green spaces to enhance nature, leisure, and enjoyment”.

It explains that, to do this, it wants to connect green spaces together, such as Queen Elizabeth Gardens and Fisherton recreation ground.

It also wanted to improve path and cycleways around rivers and meadows, as well as reducing flood risks.

The fourth pillar proposed is “bringing out the qualities” of the city.

The council says it wants “to enhance buildings and spaces to best showcase the unique and beautiful heritage of Salisbury”.

To do this, it wants to follow on from the “Creating Vibrancy” section, to look at utilising empty space in the city.

And the final initiative proposed is “identifying character areas and their role in the city”.

The council wants to do this by “providing a clear and distinctive identity and purpose to the various parts of the centre area to enhance their individual character and role”.

As such, the authority has noted that different parts of the city, for example Fisherton Street and Castle Street, attract different visitors, with one for culture, and the other for businesses.