Plans for large bungalow in Old Post Office garden refused on heritage grounds

Roger and Jackie Sansum submitted a planning application to put up a self-built three-bedroom chalet-stye bungalow in the garden of the existing building of the Old Post Office in Thornhill Road in South Marston.

The house would be a two-floor, three-bedroom bungalow made out of brick at the far end of the land, being 139.3m² big, with an additional 24.8m² big garage.

Plans for the possible new house (Image: Swindon Council)

The Old Post Office building is currently used as a bed and breakfast.

Swindon Borough Council’s conservation, urban design, and landscaping officers all objected to the plan, but South Marston Parish Council did not.

In a document submitted in the planning application by Swindon Borough Council, it said: "The site is not within a conservation area, nor is the building listed. However, the South Marston Neighbourhood plan identifies several buildings nearby as being of heritage interest.

"I note and concur with the comments made by the urban design officer with regard to the design of the proposed dwelling, however, I am not currently convinced that a dwelling could be constructed on this site without causing harm to the setting of non-designated heritage assets."

Amy Dower, the case officer from Swindon Borough Council working on this case, also said: "The openness of the site contributes to the setting of several non-designated heritage assets.

"The construction of a dwelling on the site in my opinion would adversely affect the setting of the heritage assets, thereby harming their significance"

Urban Design and landscaping officers also objected to the application.

A conservation officer objected to the argument: "The proposed dwelling does not sensitively respond to the immediate surrounding context and character. The architecture is not of a rural/vernacular character as found in the attractive historic neighbouring properties."

Landscaping was also seen as a problem as the now open space

A landscaping officer at Swindon Council said: "Whilst there may not be landscape reasons that preclude development in this location, this historic context must be respected, and a strong landscape-led relationship to Thornhill Road should be integral to the scheme. "

However, South Marston Parish Council did not agree with Swindon Borough Council on this.

They said that after having raised their concerns with the applicants and coming to an agreement about the landscape and change in orientation of the house on the planning application, they had nothing to object to.