COUNCILLORS have been given the green light to approve planning permission for the high-rise apartment building to be situated on the site of the old Tented Market.

Council officers have advised the borough’s elected representatives to grant permission for the apartment block, which will likely be up to 15 storeys high.

The decision on whether formally to allow construction to go ahead will now rest with councillors, who will debate the application at the planning meeting on Tuesday, October 10.

Extolling the positives the development would bring, officers concluded: “The application would deliver a range of benefits: much needed housing, employment at construction phase and staffing at the restaurants, a high quality landmark building and active frontages at the ground floor level.

“The application would deliver a large volume of residential apartments, contributing much needed vitality to this part of the town centre.

“The occupiers of the apartments would use local amenities, public transport, restaurants, retail and leisure uses. In so doing, the scheme has the potential to provide a catalyst for the wider regeneration of the Wharf Green area of the town centre.”

An application to build a modest restaurant complex on the site was last year rejected by the council’s planning committee.

But the developers appealed and won, leaving the council’s planning team with little stomach for another fight.

And it was reported in mid-September that the developers were hoping to increase the size of the building from 12 storeys to 15.

Despite the recommendation that permission be approved, residents in the area have long voiced their opposition to the plans.

The Central Swindon South Parish Council objected on the grounds that the building is “not in keeping with the street scene in terms of height”.

They suggested it should be reduced to “an acceptable level of six storeys”.

Central ward councillor Bob Wright (Lab) also objected to the plans, describing the scale of the development on Market Street and Commercial Road as “inappropriate”.

He said: “The design has moved considerably from what was originally put to councillors and does nothing to enhance Swindon desire to improve its presentation.”

But Christopher Moore, director of developers NC Architects, remains confident that permission will be granted.

He said he hoped councillors would “recognise the efforts made and approve the scheme”.