Central: When Developer Abode Time Ltd put plans in at the start of the year to convert Trinity Hall, a former Victorian Church, last used as a children’s nursery school, into flats, the company got short shrift from planners.
The plan to convert the building on the corner of Victoria Road and Groundwell Road into 13 flats was turned down by council planners citing the lack of cycle parking, storage for bins and ‘vehicle servicing’.
Abode Time has tried again, but it may face a different obstacle.
In its very similar plan to divide the building into studio, one-bed, and two–bed apartments it shows uncovered parking for 24 cycles, in two ranks of Sheffield stands. That facility is near the large bin store area, both at the northern end of the site butting on to Groundwell Road.
It’s the loss of the use as a nursery school which could be an issue. The borough council’s early years education officer says there is great pressure on places for pre-school education in central Swindon and given that lack says the loss of Trinity Hall as a nursery would be unacceptable.
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Stratton St Margaret: A plan by a swimming pool, and hot tub company to offer lessons, and even parties in its pool has been withdrawn.
Sleemans at 154 Swindon Road sells bottled gas and, more pertinently, hot tubs, swimming pool kits and swim spas.
It has its own swimming pool at the site – and the company has put in a plan to erect a one-storey building over it, with an integrated changing area. The proposal was to use it to be able to demonstrate pools and spas and tubs, but also to host swimming lessons, exercise classes and small private pool parties.
The borough council’s highways officer said there was not sufficient information to know whether this would cause significant disruption on the busy main road and recommended refusal on grounds of insufficient information, a position supported by the local parish council.
Sleemans has withdrawn the application, possibly intending to try again with the needed extra detail.
Swindon Planning: New use for closed pub that isn’t housing
Highworth: Estate Agent Richard James has taken over a shop in Highworth, formerly Weigh It Up, on the corner of Swindon Street and the High Street.
The company has applied to put up new signs, with a grey facia and the name Richard James in gold lettering.
Bishopstone: The owner of 9 Whatleys Orchard in the east Swindon village hopes to do his bit for net zero. Paul Tremlin has applied to put 20 solar panels on the south and west-facing roofs of the 1980s house.
Extensions: Applications have been submitted to build extensions to houses, or outbuildings or to convert lofts and garages into habitable rooms at: 75 Wheeler Avenue, Stratton St Margaret; 73 Duchess Way, Queensfield; 36 Devizes Road, Old Town; 64 High Street, Blunsdon; 48 Harcourt Street, Ferndale; 13 Pembroke Gardens, Moredon; 47 Kent Road, Kingshill; 62 Sunningdale Road, Pinehurst’ 4 manor Close, Blunsdon; 33 Kellsboro Avenue, Wroughton; 69 Goddard Avenue, Old Town; 123 Thames Avenue, Haydon Wick; 43 Haydon View Road, Pinehurst; 23 Constable Road, Stratton St Margaret; 15 Bullfinch Close, Covingham; 16 Bessemer Close, Rodbourne Cheney; 15 Pentylands Close, Highworth; 30 Thames View, Blunsdon; 74 Okebourne Park, Liden.
Such applications have been approved for: 2 Kembrey Street, Gorse Hill; 19 Swanbrook, Covingham; 4 Jenner Close, Wanborough; 7 Robinsgreen, Covingham and 38 Reynolds Way, St Andrews Ridge.
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