South Marston: A controversial plan to build a power plant producing energy from super-heating domestic waste to release gas has come one step closer with the approval of the developer Rolton Kilbride’s landscaping proposals.

The company has had its plans to use trees as screening around the entirety of the plant, pictured, which will feature a huge chimney just to the north of the A419 signed off.

It only got permission to build the plant after an appeal to the Secretary of State after Swindon Borough Council turned down the proposals.

Old Town: Tattoo artist Nick Ferris could soon be inking customers in the middle of Swindon. He has been given permission to convert a former party supplies and fancy-dress shop at the bottom of the Victoria Road hill into a tattoo parlour.

Tattooing will take place on both the ground and first floor.

Old Town: Noise from a nightclub has caused a delay, at least, to plans to concert offices into flats.

Eurocent Swindon has applied for approval for its proposal to convert the offices on the first and second floors of Marlborough House in the High Street into 12 small flats.

That has been refused by the council’s planners after objections from both South Swindon Borough Council over the size of the units, and the lack of light and ventilation in some rooms and from Suju nightclub next door, which said the area was known for its night-time economy and was not suitable for flats.

Eurocent will need to apply for formal planning permission if it wants to continue with its proposal.

Ramleaze: Agnieszka Antosz has been given permission to work on an empty plot of land next to her home in Percheron Close. Ms Antosz applied to the council to be allowed to cut down the brambles and overgrown shrubbery on the triangle of land, and replant is, effectively using it as her own garden.

She will plant pear and apple trees, rose bushes and dahlias and crocus and tulip bulbs for spring – but she told planning officers her first job will be clearing the site of the dense thicket of shrub

Grange Park: Hairdresser Hayley Gleed has had her plan to convert her double garage at her home in Hampton Court to a salon approved. She told planners only she would be using it and would work part time. She said there was ample parking and only one customer would visit at a time.

Blunsdon: Thames Water wants to replace about 13.5km of the water pipe which runs between Faringdon and Blunsdon. It has asked the council’s planners if it needs to commission an environmental impact assessment before it applies for approval for the work. The company wants to replace the stretch of underground pipe from Blunsdon to where it meets the A361 north of Highworth

West Swindon: Fast-food chain McDonald's will be able to trade all hours of the day and night when it moves to its new unit at the West Swindon Centre. The company says it won’t necessarily be open 24 hours a day seven days a week but wants the flexibility and its application has been approved.

Extensions: Proposals to build extensions to houses or to build or convert outbuildings into living spaces have been approved for: 4 Clarke Drive, Old Shaw; 56 Hyde Road, Upper Stratton; 24 Gilling Way, Covingham, 55 Upfield, Liden; 7 Tees Close, Haydon Wick; 6 Yellowhammer Close, Covingham; 26 Hyde Road, Upper Stratton; 1 Capitol Close, Stratton St Margaret; 24 Dickens Close, Liden, 1 Melstock Road, Taw Hill; 8 Salcombe Grove, Old Walcot; 59 Castle View Road, Chiseldon; 11 Kerrs Way, Wroughton; 27 Greenwich Grove, Taw Hill; 127 Sandringham Road, Lawn and The Green Liddington.