Swindon Borough Council's planning department is considering a number of new schemes.

We've rounded up the pick of this week's applications.

HIGHWORTH: A disused wine bar in the cellar of a listed building at 10 High Street can be turned into a two-bedroom flat.

Urban Associates Ltd, owners of the site, have been given the go-ahead for the plan but only after revisions to set aside the concerns of Swindon Borough Council’s conservation officer and Highworth Town Council’s planning committee.

The plan was to convert the bar and adjacent toilet block into a two-bed flat with the external courtyard area  having the storage area, smoking shelter and removed to create a private outdoor space for the apartment’s residents.

Highworth Town Council had originally asked for the proposal to be called in to be discussed by the borough council’s planning committee. The smaller council had said it wanted the space to retain a commercial usage.

The owner’s application said the cellar had been offered for lease and advertised locally and nationally for five years with no interest: “As a result some £65,000 has been lost in rent over that time.

“One of the reasons for lack of interest in tenanting the wine bar has been the number of competing hospitality units in the High Street:  three pubs (one closed), one wine bar, and two licensed restaurants. It would appear that the High Street is well served with hospitality outlets.”

Revisions to the plans which showed the basement would not be permanently sub-divided and a historic fireplace not divided also lead to the Conservation officer dropping objections.

BURDEROP: A proposal has been made to create a new farm access to Burderop Farm yard across the land of the farm, from the C3088 road just north of the Alexandra Park housing development.

The applicant Mr Margesson says the farm is currently accessed by Dairy Road, a very narrow lane, which runs past some five houses, and means it is not suitable for larger farm vehicles. This impacts the economic viability of the farm.

TOWN CENTRE: BT has been given permission to install a communications hub and advertising screen, colloquially called 'monoliths', in the town centre outside 19D Regent Street. The hubs can be used for emergency calls and they also supply free Wi-Fi.

EXTENSIONS: Applications have been lodged to build extensions to houses, or put up outbuildings or convert lofts and garages to habitable rooms at: 18 Pleydell Road, Old Town; 13 Pembroke Gardens, Moredon; 15 Hodson Road, Chiseldon; 3 Cagney drive, Abbey Meads; 71 St Philips Road, Stratton St Margaret; 15 Turnpike Road, Blunsdon; 1 Chilworth Close, Haydon Wick; 5 Lukas Close, Abbey Meads; 20 Winifred Street, old Town; 86 Severn Avenue, Hardon Wick; 8 Kingsdown Road, Kingsdown; 6 the street, Castle Eaton; and 8 Rodbourne Road, Rodbourne.

Applications for extensions and outbuildings have  been approved for 14 Lisle Close, Grange Park; 18 Staldon Road, East Wichel; 28 Dores Road, Upper Stratton; 19 The Dormers, Highworth; 3 Shuter Grove, St Andrews; and 36 Moredon Road, Moredon.

A plan to put up a two-storey rear extension at 66 County Road in Broad Green has been refused. Swindon Borough Council’s planners said: “The proposal represents poor design which due to its scale, appears bulky and out of proportion resulting in a dominant and incongruous addition, conflicting with both the character of the host dwelling and the surrounding area. 21.

 “The proposal impacts upon the neighbour causing unacceptable harm as a result of the visual intrusion and detraction of light.”

A second-floor rear extension has also been refused at 53 Belle Vue Road, Old Town because: “The massing, height and design would result in an incongruous and disproportionate addition to the roof from of the property that would be detrimental to the wider roof-scape of the terrace of properties, and in turn harmful to the character and appearance, of the local residential area.”