THE head of a product design company has reassured residents ahead of its move to Whitchurch.

Senior partner at 3form Design, Austen Miller, wrote to reassure residents ahead of the company’s potential moving in date at the end of next month.

In the firm’s blog, Mr Miller wrote “An Open Letter to Whitchurch” reassuring residents about a feature of their new product design studio on London Street.

In the post, Mr Miller wrote how there was a concern about the newly built wall on the corner of the chapel and visibility when exiting Test Road.

When he spoke to Whitchurch Town Council, Mr Miller said that although there were no official complaints about the wall, there had been an informal worry expressed.

He explained the height of the wall was a planning requirement and added the design was in keeping with the chapel and that it was to provide bin storage and bicycle parking.

Mr Miller added they have shrunk their wall boundary and are offering the chance for the BT box and Test Road signpost to be brought further back so as to allow pedestrians and pushchairs more room to pass.

Ally Le Sueur, operations manager, added: “The town council have always been supportive and we’re really grateful.”

Mr Miller, who is also the chapel architect, said: “The overall sense of the building is about community.

“I know for some developments, people don’t like change.

“We want it to feel like a public building, even though it isn’t, and to encourage and support the high-street.

“The biggest fear is someone coming here and destroying this building.

“But this building has had a lot of love and care.

“I’m just trying to keep people informed, I just want to allay their fears because I know for some people change is difficult to take on.”

3form Design, which has been based in Andover for 16 years, was due to move into the old Methodist Chapel in Whitchurch last November.

The Chapel was originally built more than 100 years ago and was vacant for a couple of decades before Mr Miller bought it in 2013.

Now the company is hoping to be able to move in by the end of April.