THE transformation of Salisbury's former bus station into retirement homes has moved a step closer after a planning inspector presided over an appeal hearing on the development.

Churchill Retirement Living's (CRL) plan to build 31 one-bedroom and 16 two-bedroom apartments on the Endless Street site was rejected by planning officers before it even reached the planning committee stage because of possible noise levels.

Wiltshire Council officers cited busy roads, fast food restaurants, a vacant nightclub and a pub holding live music events as among the noise sources.

But appealing the decision, CRL worked with the council to overcome objections with both parties reaching an agreement with the exception of one condition relating to energy performance standards.

Wiltshire Council wants CRL to abide by higher standards than those in building regulations but CRL states this is no longer necessary due to the Government having removed the conditions earlier this year.

The firm has bought number 4a and 4b Endless Street, formerly The Warehouse nightclub, and struck a deal with the owners of number 6, formerly N&N Bar, stopping the venue ever reopening as a club or other music venue.

A separate application to turn 6 Endless Street into a cafe has been lodged with plans also to convert a four-bed flat on the first floor into two flats.

Due to the application having been rejected by planning officers under delegated powers and it having gone to appeal, it bypassed elected councillors and the opportunity for it to be debated in public, prompting cries of a 'backroom deal' by one councillor.

At the appeal hearing today (Tuesday) which was held at Salisbury City Hall, the planning inspector John Chase took note of the updated plans and visited the site with a Wiltshire Council planning officer and the agent, Planning Issues.

A decision is expected to be made over the next few weeks.