The follow planning decisions have been made by Wiltshire Council recently:

Chippenham: to transform Chippenham offices into flats have been withdrawn by the applicant.

A bid for prior notification was submitted by Mr Conn of 1 Market Place in Chippenham to change the offices at the address into three flats.

This work would be have been carried out in the offices above the existing retail space.

However, the bid has now been withdrawn by Mr Conn.

Despite this the bid was shown support from Chippenham Town Council which said: “Flats would be of a decent size and natural light afforded to all habitable rooms.

“If there are no overlooking/privacy concerns it is recommended that the high-level windows proposed to be introduced on the south east elevation are enlarged to normal size.”

Wiltshire Council’s highways officer said there was no ground for them to object to the plans, as parking was available at the back of the development.

They added: “Construction should be carefully regulated though as vehicular access will be difficult.”

Pewsey: Plans to replace a three-bedroom house near Pewsey have been rejected by Wiltshire Council.

Joe Stewart of Withy Tree Cottage, Knowle put in a bid to replace the existing property with a three to four-bedroom “passive house”.

However, Wiltshire Council’s planning officer believed the demolition of the existing cottage would result in a loss in heritage and cause “harm to the significance of the pair of cottages” and the area as a whole.

Officers added: “The design of the dwelling, with poorly detailed elevations and asymmetric roof form, is not sympathetic to the neighbouring attached historic building and thus fails to respond positively to the historic environment or enhance local distinctiveness.”

Some commenting on the bid by Mr Stewart were in favour of the plans but others raised concerns over the scarcity of thatched cottages.

Pewsey Parish Council said on first glance the plans would be to demolish a perfectly sound and pretty thatched cottage.

But added that a specialist said the site was neither in good nor original condition and that it would support the bid despite asking for more clarity on the treatment of the roof.

Teffont: A bid to convert a barn into a bungalow has been rejected by Wiltshire Council.

Richard Bristow and Annabel Webb put in a change of use bid with the council at Sandyhills Farm.

The pair wanted to convert the barn on the Teffont site into a single-storey dwelling, but Wiltshire Council officers kicked the plans into the long grass, this week.

Plans submitted show that the barn would be transformed into a four-bedroom house.

If approved, officers said, the building would cause harm to the surrounding Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and future occupants would need to use a private vehicle – against the council’s planning policies.

Officers added that the proper surveys had not been submitted to show how the applicants would mitigate the impact of the development would have on the bat population at the Chilmark Quarries and nearby great crested newts.

However, the parish council supported the bid, it said: “The Parish Council is aware of the shortage of affordable housing in the village and this young family have lived in the village all their lives and wish to remain so. This is their only opportunity to create an affordable home and the council fully supports them in this endeavour. The barn is currently derelict and it will be of benefit to all to bring this building back into use. It is to be encouraged to reuse old farm buildings.”

David Wood, who owns the nearby Manor Farm said that while he would be the most affected by the proposals, he fully supported the bid.

Mr Woods added: “I am satisfied that a dwelling of the kind proposed by the Applicant would in reality have little adverse impact on anyone.

“Indeed I believe that developing the property sensitively to repurpose the redundant agricultural facilities at Sandyhills Farm into family accommodation would represent a net benefit to the community and to the local environment.”

Box: Andy Cross of 6 Valens Terrace has won planning permission to build a single-storey rear extension onto his home.