DESIGNS for a proposed block of flats are so boring that one councillor said she was happy they weren’t going to be built in her ward.

Coun Vera Tomlinson, ward councillor for St Andrews, slammed the revised plans for the 28 flats on the Delta Business Park, Westlea.

At a meeting of the borough’s planning committee on Tuesday night, Coun Tomlinson said: “I’m going to say, as I did at the last meeting, it’s the most boring block of flats I’ve ever seen in all the years I’ve been on planning.

“I’m just thankful it’s not in my ward.”

Developers want to build a two-storey extension on top of the roof of Minerva House, near the building occupied by Oxford Brookes University. Approval has already been given to convert the rest of the existing Minerva House building from offices to 41 flats.

Residents, a nearby business and West Swindon Parish Council all lodged concerns, mostly about the impact on parking in an area where spaces are at a premium.

The application for 28 flats was brought to the planning committee last month, but was deferred after councillors raised concerns about the lack of parking spaces.

An extra 10 parking spaces were found by the developers.

And, while Mannington ward councillor Steph Exell said she remained concerned about the potential impact on the area’s parking crisis, especially if the accommodation is not intended for university students.

But Andy Brown, planning officer, said the parking provision now met the borough council’s minimum.

Coun Stan Pajak called the extra spaces a success story for council officers: “We have to give you thanks for fighting that battle.”

Coun Tomlinson added: “I’m pleased that they went away and managed to find more parking spaces, which they were trying to convince us they wouldn’t be able to.”

The new scheme, with the additional 10 parking spaces, was approved by the planning committee.