LISTED building consent has been given for a former school in Devizes to be turned into flats despite Wiltshire Council turning down plans for the redevelopment.

Last month members of the eastern area planning committee rejected the proposal to turn Southbroom School House in Estcourt Street into six flats after an outcry about a lack of parking.

But people living nearby were concerned when council documents showed that plans for six homes had been approved. This week Peter Evans, who sits on both Wiltshire Council and Devizes Town Council, explained the scheme would still have to be resubmitted and undergo full scrutiny before it could go-ahead.

He said: "This has caused confusion but this is separate from the main plan. This is only about listed building consent. Building cannot go ahead until the plan is resubmitted and agreed."

Back in the summer people living in Estcourt Road and Estcourt Crescent the housing plan was put forward with only six parking spaces for flats that could house up to 20 people.

Darren Saunders of Estcourt Crescent, Devizes, who led the battle to stop the Diocese of Salisbury converting Southbroom School House, was delighted that the eastern area planning committee refused the scheme despite it having the backing of officers.

At the time he said: "We are very grateful to the councillors, especially Sue Evans, who was the person who asked for the plan to be called in so it could go to committee and then spoke about the worries of residents. The town councillors have also been absolutely fantastic in their support.

"We are not against the building being converted into homes just the lack of parking. We expect there will be either a revised plan or an appeal but we will have to wait and see."

A spokesman for the Diocese promised to speak to people about their concerns before revised plans are submitted.

On the other side of Devizes there is hope that a former school that has been closed for six years will be given a new lease of life.

St Peter's School in Bath Road closed after numbers dwindled and it was decided to build a new school as part of the Quakers Walk estate.

Planning permission was given for it to be turned into 25 homes back in 2015 but little has happened since.

Now hopes have been raised that work may be about to start after Wiltshire Council was asked to approve details of the scheme including layout, external appearance and landscaping. These were approved by officers earlier this month.

The old school, which originally opened in 1870, will be converted and extra homes will be built at the back. The site covers 1.85 acres and in recent times has become a victim of vandalism.

A Wiltshire Council spokesman said when plans were approved: "We are delighted that the developers in this case have found a way of keeping the school main structure which is vital to preserve the ethos of the town."