Swindon faces several changes if the latest round of planning applications submitted to the borough council get approved.

Upper Stratton: Brett Property Group, the developers behind a plan to convert the former Reform Club in Beechcroft Road have amended their plans, already given permission, in light to social changes following the Covid-19 pandemic.

The plan to turn the club into five one-bed apartments now includes a study/work room in each house to make working from home easier.

The developer says that will make it easier to get funding for the conversion in difficult economic circumstances.

 

Old Town: A plan put forward by Outside Clinic opticians and hearing practice to convert the offices behind the two Grade-II-listed fronts at 10-14 High Street has been refused prior approval by Swindon Borough Council’s planners.

They say the clinic has not provided evidence that the buildings have been empty for three months, that the 15 apartments it wants to construct will all have natural light in habitable rooms and that the transport impact of the development will be acceptable.

The company wants to put six apartments in the space behind the main ground floor area, which will be retained for commercial use, and also to convert the first and second floors into nine flats.

It can still apply for full planning permission, but it’s a more complex process than getting prior approval.

 

Old Town:  A plan to convert the four flats contained in a pair of Victorian houses at 179-180 Victoria Road seems to have expired through lack of attention.

Developer Allan Heneghan, based in Cricklade lodged the application to make the conversion and put up a three-storey extension at the rear in April 2021. Statutory consultees like the council’s urban design officer and South Swindon Parish Council said in July last year that more information was needed.

None was provided and the council’s planning department says because of that lack of response, and because Mr Heneghan has not appealed against the failure to determine the application within the expiry date of May 2022 that the application has been “finally disposed of”.

 

Stratton St Margaret: A lack of time for neighbours to be able to prepare arguments for a meeting of the planning committee which met on Tuesday has meant a plan to build two houses behind the gardens of houses in Haig Close and Orchard Grove has not been decided.

Members assembled to discuss and decide on the plan by Lotus Properties (SW) LTD to build on the gardens of a pair of derelict semi-detached cottages, 77 and 78 St Philips Road were told by nearby Lynda Mitchell that neighbours had not received letters about the meeting until the day before.

It transpired that the letters had been sent out on the Thursday of the week before.

The plan to build the two large detached houses, retaining the two cottages as annexes with guest rooms and offices was deferred until the committee meeting scheduled for April 11 after members of the committee voted unanimously to put the issue back.

 

Extensions: Applications have been submitted to build extensions to houses, outbuildings, including a treehouse, or to convert garages and lofts into habitable rooms at: Stratton St Margaret, 59 Conigsburgh, Toothill; 81 Goddard Avenue, Old Town; 5 Arran Way, Highworth; 28 Castleton Road, Westlea.

Such applications have been approved for 40 Whitelands Road, Stratton St Margaret; 78 Drove Road, Old Town; 27 Turnpike Road, Blunsdon;  31 Pembroke Gardens, Moredon; 11 Linley Close, Old Town and 7 Wills Avenue, Marshgate.

The conditions placed on developers when large swathes of West Swindon were built in the 1990s have stymied, at least for a while the plans of Mr and Mrs Brailey who live in 8 Caraway Drive.

The couple had asked for a certificate of lawful development to convert the integrated garage in their house to a playroom, also using some of the space to expand the downstairs lavatory and make it into a boiler room as well.

But because the retention of garages for use or parking cars is in the conditions laid down when =council planners granted permission for the houses there to be built, such a certificate has been refused, with the council saying full planning permission is required.

That won’t necessarily be refused, but it will require a full application.