AN application for planning permission to demolish Little Orchard, a bungalow on London Road, Devizes, and replace it with a terrace of four houses was passed by Kennet District Council's regulatory committee last Thursday after they heard Devizes Town Council had withdrawn its objections.

The committee also approved a scheme to convert the Home From Home shop in Sidmouth Street, Devizes, and the flat above it to two shops and five flats, also after hearing that the town council had dropped its objections.

The town council had commented that the Little Orchard plan would be an over-development of the site and would generate extra traffic onto an already congested London Road.

They said of the Sidmouth Street scheme that it would be "detrimental to the historic fabric of the listed building".

It also believed that the issue of providing enough parking for the residents needed to be addressed.

But both applications went through almost without comment last Thursday after the meeting was told that the town council had withdrawn its comments.

Coun Ray Parsons, who is also a town councillor, said he would go along with the planning officer's recommendation to approve the Little Orchard scheme because a similar application was granted planning permission two months ago.

He said of the Sidmouth Street scheme: "That end of Devizes could do with regenerating."