PLANS to convert two former Swindon Advertiser buildings into homes have come under fire.

Designs for a former reel store – where the printing paper was once stored – were dismissed as resembling a “horrible slab” by one parish councillors.

And another slammed as “horrendous” plans to turn the old Advertiser printing hall and newsroom into 31 flats.

Developers have submitted two separate applications relating to buildings in Albert Street, Old Town.

Firm Blewbury Court wants to convert the back of Newspaper House, where the Advertiser was once printed, into 21 one-bedroom apartments, nine flats of two bedrooms each and a single studio flat.

It has issued the Swindon Borough Council planning team with a prior notification of its intention to change the building’s use from offices to residential. The borough’s planners must assess whether they need to formally give planning permission because the development poses transport, flooding or contamination risks.

Parish councillors were scathing about the plans at a meeting of South Swindon Parish Council’s planning committee this week.

Steve Allsopp, parish councillor for Walcot and Park North, said: “It’s conversion of offices into apartments without any parking spaces. It’s just a function of the national policies, some of which I applaud in terms of its spirit.

“But in a sensitive area like this, which is already a conservation area and you look at it in total of what’s going on that particular site I think it’s horrendous.”

And councillors recommended that borough planning officers refuse Blewbury Court planning permission to convert garages and storage buildings on Albert Street into 14 homes.

Parish councillor Nick Burns-Howell warned of the possible parking impact on the area. Stan Pajak, who also sits on the borough planning committee, agreed. He said the plans were not in keeping with the area: “It’s an incredibly ugly building. We talk about something fitting, but this one doesn’t do that at all. It’s a horrible slab.” The committee voted to recommend the borough refuse permission.