PLANS to turn a home on Broad Street into one bedroom flats have been approved by Swindon Borough Council - but the new occupants will not be allowed to park outside their new homes.

The application, to create two one bedroom flats at 114 Broad Street, and the outbuilding into a studio flat, by Mr N Amin, was approved by borough council planning officers last week - despite an objection from the newly formed South Swindon Parish Council.

The councillors objected that an additional home of multiple occupants (HMO) would adversely affect the character of the surrounding area and lead to an "unacceptable" concentration of HMOs in the area.

They further stated: "The development of the garage would be out of keeping with the area and set a precedent for garages to be converted into living accommodation. It is not clear from the plans where the entrance would be to the property; whether by demolishing the side wall or thorough the existing property.

"There is no mention on the plans whether the garage is built to the correct building regulations that would make it suitable for habitation."

They also took issue with the loss of parking as a result of the garage conversion in an area that already has a problem with parking.

Last week the borough council approved the plans, but stated in its decision that the occupants of the flats would not be entitled to a parking permit for any of the town's resident parking zones.

The council's head of planning stipulated that the flats could not be occupied until sheltered cycle storage facilities for two bicycles were installed to encourage sustainable travel.