A PLAN to convert a former shop in Old Town into a shared house has been approved by councillors... reluctantly.

Swindon Borough Council’s planning committee considered the planning application for the old Stanwells tool shop on Eastcott Road, which would see it turned into an 11-bedroom property.

This follows a bid submitted last year to put 12 bedrooms in the property, which was denied by councillors as they agreed there were too many rooms and not enough space for tenants.

Parish councillors objected to the latest application but were advised by the planning committee that if there are no new reasons to object then the inspector could deem it unreasonable and the council would lose the appeal, if one is lodged by the developer.

This follows the proposed application being deemed worthy to the requirements that were asked of the developer for it to go ahead.

There was an agreed feeling amongst the councillors that it should be five or six flats with parking allocated for the tenants.

Another point made was that the lounge and kitchen area would be better suited being expanded as the general consensus is that only one person would be able to cook at a time because of the sheer size of it.

The vote score was seven against and five in favour of the application being ‘reluctantly’ accepted.

Coun Toby Elliot, vice chairman of the planning committee, said: “With regret I will vote to accept the application.

“We need our own rules and legislation on multiple occupancy that we can put in place to stop something like this arising again.”

Coun Vera Tomlinson, chairman of the licensing committee, said: “I feel uneasy about this decision, but I will accept it.

“I understand that we will lose on appeal. I accept that, but it doesn’t make it any easier.”

However, councillors acknowledged that changes had been made from the last application. They included removing one bedroom from the plans and replacing it with a bicycle and bin store.

Paul Dixon, parish councillor for Eastcott, said: “I don’t feel the provision for the cycles and refuse is big enough.

“It’s a small space and if you have a Eurobin or two, can you get 11 cycles in there?”

At its last meeting South Swindon Parish Council voted to recommend the new plans be rejected by the borough.

One resident declared that it will leave the area open to more rubbish and traffic being added, with current residents left to have to deal with it.

COUNCILLORS reluctantly voted yes to pass a planning application on Eastcott Road.

A meeting to discuss the latest planning application to convert the former Stanwells tool shop into an 11-bedroom shared house was put under spotlight by councillors at Swindon Borough Councils offices in Euclid Street.

A question was posed to the planning committee as to why the council can’t stick up for the way of living in the town?