More jobs and a new restaurant could be created in an historic Trowbridge town centre mill after businessman Jon Giles bought it.

Mr Giles, 47, will redevelop Stone Mill, a late 18th century textiles mill next to The Shires shopping centre, to make room for more businesses to move in.

The property has fallen into disrepair after the previous owners went into receivership, with much of it remaining empty for several years.

At present it has just four occupants, Curves, the ladies’ gym, Face2Face cosmetic clinic, Welcome Finance, and Specsavers.

Mr Giles expects to fill all 11 of the Grade II-listed building’s units within a year. One of the units will be taken up by Giles UK, the parent company Mr Giles, who lives in Atworth, has run for 30 years with his brother Robert.

It owns and runs Mastershoe, a fashion outlet in Court Hall, a building Mr Giles also bought and renovated in 2002.

Six units will be available and Mr Giles is confident a riverside restaurant or carvery could take up the large ground floor unit.

It has views of the river and an outdoor space which could provide up to 50 restaurant seats.

Mr Giles said: “We are hoping we will be able to attract like-minded businesses with the ones we already have.

“But I believe there could also be a great opportunity for a restaurant or carvery to open up.”

As part of the plans Mr Giles will rip out the fixtures and fittings for the Shires Tavern, a pub that was due to open inside the building but never got planning consent, despite a bid be entrepreneur Tom Rothschild.

The pub area will be converted into one of the new retail units.

Other front-runners for new occupants include a massage and treatment centre and a fish spa, where clients place their feet in bowls filled with hundreds of toothless fish which gently nibble away at dead skin.

A new hairdressers, nail bar and coffee shop are also being sought to attract more shoppers in.

“People currently walk past the building and look it with disappointment,” said Mr Giles. “We want to do something about and make it a really valuable part of our town centre again.”