A PROPOSAL to convert a former city centre bar and lap dancing club into housing has been rejected by council planners.

But in a twist, a second connected application to change listed building status at the White Rooms on Milford Street was approved using the chairman's casting vote.

It means the elected officials from Wiltshire Council are not opposed to some form of development at the site but remain opposed to the plan for ten modern apartments and two shops.

The application, branded as the Old Brewery, was proposed to be a complete revamp of the site which had been unused for several years and has fallen into a state of disrepair.

It involved the demolition of a single storey block at the back and a single storey flat roof structure with replacement new buildings.

Councillors of the Southern Area Planning Committee said they thought the site was not suitable for housing and objected to the modern design. They also opposed over drainage fears and waste collection plans.

Cllr Richard Clewer branded the design as being "awful" describing the glass structure as being like a "goldfish bowl".

Meanwhile Cllr Brian Dalton said the metal outer structure looked "cheap" and "tacky" adding the proposal was "not something to be desired".

Other councillors raised concerns about late-night revellers using the alleyway after leaving next door Zoo and nearby Chapel nightclub.

Cllr Ian West said future residents would forget to shut a glass door which was designed to be closed during the night.

"Milford Street is a night-time economy, it is where young people go to enjoy themselves," he said. "Can you imagine when the Chapel closes what will happen in that alleyway.

"It is a recipe for disaster, you cannot do that in this area. This is like putting a foxes den next to the chickens."

The committee were split on the proposal with Cllr Chris Devine saying it was an "exciting" proposal.

Chairman Fred Westmoreland also backed development saying "it is hard to see what could be done on the site in commercial terms".

Councillors rejected the proposal by six votes to five. Moments later however an abstention by Cllr Ian Tomes left an equal split on whether to change listed building status to allow some form of development. Currently the former White Rooms building has Grade II listed status.

In using his casting vote Cllr Westmoreland said: "Buildings which have stood for 600 years are not subject to the easy answers which have been applied in the past. Practically every chequer [in the city] has been destroyed. This is a chance to retain some of that chequer character."