Conversions are a theme in planning applications and decisions in Swindon this week.

Gorse Hill: Developer Ranjit Singh’s plan to convert the space above the Salvation Army Shop at 76 Cricklade Road most recently used by Charly hairdresser into two flats has been approved.

Tadpole Garden Village:  A plan for a luxury ‘Grand Designs’-style house in the north Swindon expansion has been approved. Lee Grant will be able to build the custom-designed four-bedroom L-shaped house with an attached garage on Plot 4 of Ilett Crescent, part of the village set aside for self-and custom-built houses.

The gable end of one of the parts of the building features huge windows, and views from the master bedroom, which will feature an ensuite shower and lavatory and an attached dressing room.

Old Town: Plans have been submitted by Sue Gidney, of estate agency Swindon Home Finders.com to convert the  Grade II-listed building at 2 High Street into open-plan offices.

The building, of which parts date back to 1708, wraps around the corner into Wood Street and was most recently used by hairdresser Miller & Holland.

The state agency wants to convert both floors into open plan offices for staff. The application says there would be very little change to the outside of the building, apart from repainting.

Planners are told that ‘heritage colours’ would be used in line with the council’s conservation policy.

Inside the building, the plan is to remove internal partitions and stairs added in 2002. These changes will have minimal impact on the building’s historical significance, according to the application.

Old Town: The prospect of digging a deep hole in the pavement of Western Street on Old Town has scuppered a plan to convert the basement of the house at number 58 into a flat.

Applicant M Rajah had wanted permission to create a separate two-bed apartment in the basement of the house. It would have needed digging out a three-metre-deep hole at the rear to create a patio outdoor space and a hole of similar depth, running the seven-meter width of the front of the house and taking 2.2 metres of the pavement, for access to the front of the new flat.

Turning down the plan, Swindon Borough Council planners said: “The proposed creation of an additional basement residential unit will result in an overdevelopment and intensification of the site.

“The erosion of part of the front pavement on Western Street would detract from the overall visual appearance of the corner plot building to the detriment of the character and appearance of the local area.”

Extensions: Applications have been lodged to build extensions to houses, or out buildings, or to convert lofts and garages into habitable rooms at: The Hollies, 26 Badbury Lane, Badbury; 7 Old Bakery Road, Wroughton; 141 Moredon Road, Moredon; 94 Manchester Road. Broadgreen; 79 Oxford Road, Stratton St Margaret; 171 Cheney manor Road, Cheney manor; 9 Acacia Grove, Pinehurst; 27 Okus Grove, Upper Stratton; 24 Boundary Close, Kingsdown; 70 Sandringham Road, Lawn, 9 Cartwright Drive, Old Shaw; 21 Bibury Road, Old Walcot; 27 Queen Elizabeth Drive, Haydon Wick.

Such applications have been approved for:  7 Fairford Crescent, Penhill; 9 Manor Close, Wroughton; 40 Draycott Close, Chiseldon; 43 Merton Ave, Upper Stratton; 2 Brecon Close, Lawn; 6 Pound Road, Highworth; 1 Tall Conifers, Wroughton; 43 The Bramptons, Shaw.