A FORMER butchers’ shop will be converted into a house share – as borough planners apparently ignored the concerns of parish councillors.

The old Nichols shop on Kingshill Road will be turned into a five bedroom house - although developers have withdrawn earlier efforts to convert a garage into a one bed flat.

The plans were approved by Swindon Borough Council planners late last month after the developers made “significant” changes to the plans.

However, the decision has drawn the ire of South Swindon parish councillors, who had demanded that the application go to the borough’s planning committee.

In February, the parish lodged their objection to the plans – fearing that the conversion of the old garage to a new flat could create a dangerous precedent.

Parish councillor John Firmin told the meeting: “If this is permitted and we get a precedent of a few of these being approved, then it’s actually a very big part of the town where this could happen.”

Councillors also objected to the height of the new building’s roof, its conversion to a house in multiple occupation (HMO) and the parking impact on the area.

In comments lodged with borough planners, the parish said: “The parish council would like this to be considered by the planning committee if the officer is minded to grant planning permission.”

At the parish council’s annual meeting on Tuesday night, councillors reacted with shock at the apparent failure for the application to go to the borough’s planning committee.

Coun Stan Pajak, who also sits on the powerful borough committee, said: “The parish council objected and it shouldn’t have gone [been approved]. It should have gone to the planning committee to decide. I can’t believe that’s happened.

“I’ve queried it as it shouldn’t be the case. If the parish objects and says it should go to the planning committee, it should go.”

Nadine Watts, vice chair of the South Swindon Parish Council’s planning committee, said: “It is disappointing that as the parish planning committee had objected, that planning permission has been granted without going to the borough council’s planning committee.

“The parish had raised a number of concerns regarding the change of use to form six HMOs including parking and access. I have asked council officers to look into this.”

A spokesman for Swindon Borough Council said that “significant changes” had been made to the planning application, with parking spaces enlarged and a planned garage conversion axed.

“A further consultation was held on the revised plans, but it appears there was some confusion over the changes that had been made to the application,” a council spokesman said.

However, he admitted that this second consultation had resulted in a mix-up: “The parish council requested that the application be brought before the planning committee. Unfortunately, this did not happen and the application was instead determined under delegated powers.

“The planning team has apologised to the parish council for this oversight.”