Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

Wiltshire Council gives itself planning permission.

A meeting of the Strategic Planning Committee on Wednesday April 6th granted planning permission for the rebuilding of part of County Hall.

The bridge by reception will be demolished and replaced by a new frontage. As well as office accomodation the new extension will include the library and the Registry Office.

The application was in part retrospective, as some of the work - including chopping down trees in the courtyard - had already been done.

The council's Principle Urban Designer (PUD) objected to the layout because it retains extensive areas of car parking in front of the buildings. For other applicants the council would normally object to such an arrangement, preferring to have car parking behind buildings.

Trowbridge Town Council (TTC) pointed out that the plans weren't non-car user friendly, that access to the town centre from the building is difficult and that there's no sign of public car parking given that more people will be visiting the site when it includes the library. These are all things Wiltshire Council would claim to consider important for any other application other than their own.

However, planning officers dismissed the concerns raised by TTC and the PUD, recommending the application for permission without any changes.