Different outcomes for applications regarding historic, listed buildings and three domestic applications are refused in this week's planning roundup. 

Railway Village: Drilling and removing mortar from the historic and listed wall of the  GWR Carriage Works along Bristol Street will be allowed.

Although the Borough Council’s conservation officer wanted more information initially regarding how much material would be pulled out, that request was satisfied by the information that the test is suspended at the first sight of movement, as this is when the strength resistance has been measured.

The tests will also involve inserting a camera into holes drilled into the wall.

Approving the proposal, planners said: “It is considered that the works constitute maintenance and repair of the listed building only and will not have any impact upon its significance, safeguarding it for the future.”

Old Town: The conversion of a former shoe shop in a listed building in Old Town into an estate agent’s offices has been put on hold.

Swindon Homefinders has withdrawn its plan to convert both storeys of 2 High Street, which wraps around the corner into Wood Street into open-plan offices.

Broadgreen: Waqar Ahmed’s plan to convert the end of terrace house at 54 Elmina Road, on the corner with Graham Street, has been refused, because of very small rooms and a lack of light.

The narrow house would have been divided into two flats, one on the ground floor, and one upstairs. The plans showed both flats would have one bedroom with other rooms arranged in a linear fashion.

In refusing Mr Ahmed’s scheme, planners said: “The first floor flat is considered to have unsuitably small rooms with cramped living conditions for future occupiers.

“In the ground floor flat the lounge area does not contain any windows, this room would not benefit from adequate levels of natural daylight. The dining and kitchen area would only be served by two high-level side elevation windows and are also considered to be quite dark.

“Neither of the flats would include outdoor amenity space, as the revised plan designates the outdoor area for parking.”

Stratton St Margaret: A plan put forward by L Hillier of the company Construction Industry to build a house on a plot of grass next to 87 Colebrook Road has been refused.

The borough council’s  drainage officer had expressed concern over increased flood risk, and Straton St Margaret Parish Council objected citing that opinion and saying it was overdevelopment and the access to the plot was inadequate

Borough Council planners said: “The proposal is out of context with the surrounding character, views, and landscape. Although the height difference between the proposed dwelling and the bungalows may not be substantial, the significant contrast in design is deemed inappropriate. The new dwelling is not proportionate to, nor does it respect, the established rhythm of development in the area.”

Extensions: Applications have been submitted to be allowed to build extensions to houses, or outbuildings or convert garages and lofts to habitable rooms at 316 Cricklade Road, Gorse Hill; Wiltshire House, Horpit, Wanborough; 170 Thames Avenue, Haydon Wick; 11 Liddington Street Pinehurst; 32 Sandown Avenue, Lakeside; 619 Cricklade Road, Penhill; 50 Kennet Road, Wroughton; 103 Cheney Manor Road, Cheney Manor; 63 Westlecot Road, Old Town; 1 Ham Road, Wanborough and 24 Goddard Avenue, Old Town.

Such applications have been approved for 32 Linslade Street, Rodbourne; 8 Swanbrook, Covingham, 25 Lansdown Road, Old Town; 141 Moredon Road, Moredon; 26 Mayfly Road, Oakhurst; 28 Berkeley Road, Wroughton, 78 Walcot Road, Walcot; 10 Goddard Avenue Old Town and 9 Cartwright Drive Old Shaw.

A plan to add four dormer windows, as well as the existing windows and doors to the garage at 27 Queen Elizabeth Drive to create a one-bed annex apartment, and then construct a separate detached garage at 27 Queen Elizabeth Drive in Haydon Wick has been refused.

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