Rodbourne: The demolition of a former commercial block used by a print company and the building of 10 houses and 12 flats on the site has come a couple of steps closer.

Developer the Cheney Manor Company already has permission to knock down the office and industrial unit uses by Presco on Kiln Lane, off Cheney Manor Road and on the edge of the large industrial estate.

There were several conditions imposed upon the company  as part of the consent and it has lodged requests to have its flooding and drainage plans and construction management plan signed off.

Four other conditions, once concerning the exterior facing materials to be used in the new homes and three concerning the landscaping, enclosure and external works have been partially signed off by planners.  They included conditions on bird roost spaces and tree planting

The council officers have requested photos of the completed work to provide nesting and roosting spaces for birds like swifts before final discharge of the condition.

Eastcott: A family home at 69 Eastcott Hill can be turned into a shared house HMO for seven people.

Planning officers have given the go-ahead to  Phil Brett’s plans to convert the house into accommodation for young professionals.

While there have often been concerns expressed about the spread of such houses, no objections were received from neighbours or the parish council.

Planners said: “There is no demonstrable evidence of a concentration of HMOs in this locality that would result in the proposal harming the character of the area.

“It is therefore considered the proposed change of use on this locality would not adversely affect the character of the area and would not result in over-concentration of HMOs in the locality

Extensions:  Applications have been submitted to build extensions to houses or outbuildings, or to convert lofts and garages into habitable spaces at: 54 Grove Hill, Highworth; 6 Vanbrugh Gate, Broome Manor; 66 Bright Street, Gorse Hill; 7 The Crescent, Chiseldon; 1 Crossways Avenue, Pinehurst; 29 Okus Road, South Leaze and 20 Radstock Avenue, Park North

The attempt to gain Prior Approval for a single-storey rear extension to 9 Kitchener Street in  Ferndale made by Mr J Bridge  has failed

Mr Bridge wanted to build out towards the back of the terraced house, enlarging the kitchen and joining up to the lavatory at the back.

But planners say it falls foul of the rules for Prior Approval which only allows for extensions which extend beyond a rear wall, because his “proposed extension would extend beyond an original side elevation of the dwelling.”

Similarly, P Butler’s proposal  at  2 New Farm Cottages The Ridgeway  in  Chiseldon for rear side extensions and an attached garage have been turned down.

The plan was to extend the ground floor at the rear and also at one side of the house, filling in the space between the small garage and the house. It would have seen enlarged living waters, a much larger garage and bedrooms on top of the new garage.

Two previous applications to extend lodged between 2000 and 2010 were refused, with one also being dismissed at appeal.  An extension was given permission in 2010.

But planning officers thought the new plans were too big: “The two-storey side extension would be a visually dominant addition and would appear to be inadequately subservient to the dwelling. It would create an unbalanced feature to the existing dwellinghouse and will be detrimental to the host.

“The combination of previously approved extensions and newly proposed extensions would result in an increase in floor space of 60 sq metres which would overwhelm the original property and is overdevelopment of the site.”