STRATTON ST MARGARET: Developer Fairhurst UK has had its application to be able to build five houses on the back gardens of four houses - 33-36 Highworth Road - approved.

The small development will have much more on people living in Barrowby Gate, a suburban cul-de-sac in a housing estate to the west of Highworth Road just south of the junction on the A419.

The houses will be accessed from that street as an extension of the small road. But in terms of responses to the application and  speaking to the LDNRS, most residents seemed happy enough with the proposal, which may have helped persuade council planners to give it the go-ahead.

DORCAN: Another new warehouse will soon be being constructed in Dorcan industrial estate. As a huge new facility goes up in Faraday Road, Troax UK Ltd, a company which specialises in industrial safety barriers has been given permission to build a new warehouse, a short way away in Murdock Road.

HIGHWORTH: The former caretaker’s bungalow at Westrop Primary School in the hill-top town can be used as a teaching facility.

The school’s application for the change of use permission said the school had been using the building since 2006 as an after-school club but without formal permission, but an investigation by one of the planning officers suggests the school did get consent for that use at the time.

NEW EASTERN VILLAGES: One of the bigger individual  development sites in the whole of the 8,000 home expansion programme has come one step closer.

A flood and surface water mitigation plan is one of several conditions imposes upon the developers of the South Marston expansion, with will see 2,380 houses, plus shops an cafes and restaurants, other employment uses two primary schools and open green spaces and playing fields.

The developers, Hallam Strategic land, and Hannick Homes and Taylor Wimpey have now submitted those plans for approval by Euclid Street planners.

GABLECROSS: Tritax Symmetry the developers of Symmetry park, where the new Amazon fulfilment centre has opened, are looking to build more warehouses factories and  research and development buildings on the site. The company has asked to be allowed to put in an environmental impact assessment for the new development without  having to provide evidence of archaeology. The company wants to be able to excavate the site, and then see if there’ are any remains of value – and it says previous excavations in the area have turned up nothing.

TREES: Applications have been made to work on trees in conservation areas or subject to tree protection orders at: Swindon Academy, Beech Avenue; The Folly, Nell Hill, Bishopstone; Stable Cottages, Sevenhampton Lane, Sevenhampton; Parva Stud, Church Row, Hinton Parva.

Such applications have been approved for: Rygar, Hunts Rise, South Marston; Greyweathers, Swindon Street, Highworth; Mil Court, Green Lane, Wroughton; Town Gardens, Old Town; Forge Cottage, High Street, Wanborough; GWR Park Faringdon Road; Keeper’s Cottage, Roves L:ane, Sevenhampton; Woodhay House, Bakers Road, Wroughton; Century House, Nell Hill, Hannington; 20 Henman Close, Abbey meads; Croft yard, Ham Road, Marlborough and 17 Lyall Close, Blunsdon St Andrew.

EXTENSIONS: Application s have been made to build domestic extensions or to build or convert outbuildings and lofts at: 75 Chandon Close, Grange Park; 126 Drove Road, Central; 172 Oxford Road, Stratton St Margaret; 41 Callington Road, Oakhurst; Cherryglade, The Orchard, Chiseldon and 12 Foxbridge, Covingham.

Such applications have been approved for: Beech Cottage, 48 Trenchard Road, Stanton Fitzwarrren; 22 King William Street, Old Town; 21 Keswick Road, Park South; 80 Bullfinch Close, Covingham; 19 Ashbury Avenue, Nythe; 10 Barcote Close, Redhouse; 113 Morris Street, Rodbourne; 18 Butleigh Road, Redhouse; 7 Adams Meadow, Wanborough.