Fire-damaged kebab shop to be finally demolished

A kebab shop that was gutted by fire more than a year ago is to be finally demolished after planning permission was granted.

The shop on Northgate Street in Devizes, Wiltshire, was largely destroyed in November 2024, but issues with the property's listed building status have delayed the demolition decision by Wiltshire Council.

It will be torn down within a month, with hopes that this will allow the reopening of the street to vehicles in both directions, for the first time since December 2024.

Town councillor Iain Wallis said he hopes this will end the "traffic chaos" that the closure caused, but warned further road closures will take place.

"Hopefully within the next few weeks, we will see something happen. [The owner] has to do it within the next month," he added.

"When it does happen, there will be a two-week road closure of that area to allow it to happen safely."

Local resident Helen Langford, who has been unable to live in her neighbouring house since the fire, said the decision would allow her to rebuild after a year of having her life "turned upside down."

"We figured that it [the demolition] would get the go-ahead. It was just a question of when," she added.

She said the fire devastated her house from top to bottom and also impacted her job, as she works from home.

"We've been out of the house for so long, we've spent all of the money in our accommodation budget," Langford added.

She said she has a building contractor lined up to work on the house and was keeping her "fingers crossed" that it would begin soon.

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