A round-up of the planning applications being considered by Swindon Borough Council this week.

BLUNSDON: Drinkers at a popular Swindon pub may be able to get a round in more rapidly - especially in the summer months - if the owners new plans are approved.

Blunsdon Arms owner Mitchells and Butlers have applied for permission to install a steel shipping container in the grounds of the pub in Lady Lane - and to use it as an additional bar.

The company’s application says: “A new 10ft high cube shipping container with an opening service hatch will improve the ease by which customers can order and lessen queuing time inside the pub.

"The tranquil atmosphere and size of the garden will not be disturbed by the container which has been designed to sit within in the garden, nearest to the main road end of the garden.

“The proposal offers continued economic viability to the building and will provide substantial benefits for the area, in terms of economic growth and the contribution to the local amenity and street scene.”

TOWN CENTRE: The adverts on the side of a building in Regent Street will be hard to miss if a new plan goes through. Wildstone Estate Ltd which owns 35 Regent Street wants to put up a digital display, the size of a full 48-sheet billboard for digital and moving adverts. It will rotate six adverts a minute at 10 second intervals.

CENTRAL:  A plan to build two flats in one two-story building behind 83 Faringdon Road has been refused.

Izzet Donmez’s scheme was to knock down the L-shaped workshop behind the house, which is used as offices and build a small block, looking very much like a house, with two one-bed flats.

Swindon Borough Council planning officers were not impressed: “The proposed development results in a cramped appearance, close to the boundaries of the site, at a juxtaposition with the surroundings, not in keeping with the character of the street and clearly visible from public realm.

The proposed is not considered to be a high-quality design as it fails to be complementary to the locality and fails to relate effectively to the immediate setting.”

OLD TOWN: A Victorian end-of-terrace house currently used as a funeral home could be returned to accommodation – but divided into three flats rather than one house.  Mr A Dallimer has applied to be able to convert the building into a two-bed flat on the first floor and two one-bed apartments on the ground floor using the existing extension of the property on the corner of Victoria Road and Cross Street.

TADPOLE GARDEN VILLAGE: The medical centre serving the area in William Morris Way wants to expand its pharmacy. Westrop Medical Practice which runs the surgery has applied for an extension for dispensing medicines at the end of the long arm of the L-shaped building.

EXTENSIONS:  Applications have been lodged to build extensions to houses, or to convert outbuildings and lofts to habitable rooms at: 23 Hatherall Close, Stratton St Margaret; ; 12 Pearl Road, Middleleaze; 82 Churchward Avenue, Cheney Manor; 27 Tryon Close, Liden and 118 Queen’s Drive.

Such applications have been approved for: 109 Grange Drive, Stratton St Margaret; Long View 64 Church Road, Wanborough; 20 Harlestone Road, Stratton St Margaret; 185 Whitworth Road, Moredon; 13 Sambre Road, Chiseldon; 98 The Dormers, Highworth; 29 Barnwell Avenue, park North; 40 Edale Moor, Liden; 62 Sandown Avenue; Lakeside; 1 St Philips Road, Stratton St Margaret; 16 Birchwood Road, Stratton St Margaret; 6 Gold View, Rushey Platt; 1B Caulfield Road, Gorse Hill; 109 Ridge Nether Moor; Liden, 78 Gladstone Street, Broadgreen; 10 Barcote Close, Redhouse; 31 Pembroke Gardens, Moredon; 3 Rodwell Close, Park South and 10 Hatchers Crescent, Blunsdon.

Umar Farook’s plan to build an extension to an extension in Drove Road has been refused proper approval, because of the nature of extending an already extended house. It does not mean Mr Farook’s plan is entirely dead, but he must apply for full planning consent, rather than proceed under prior approval.