PEOPLE living on the border of three counties have backed a development which would see them given a new village hall.

Outline proposals for a “small-scale” nine-home development at Sandways Farm in Bourton will be considered by councillors next week.

Alongside the new homes, applicants Mr and Mrs Hix, are seeking permission to demolish the agricultural buildings to replace them with a new village hall, as well as offering a patch of land which could be used as a recreation ground.

The application has attracted 18 letters and a 10-page petition in its support although nine people have objected.

These include Bourton Parish Council which would prefer the new village hall be built at Jubilee Field.

Trustees of the village hall management organisation have also supported the construction of the new building at the Chaffeymoor site rather than at Sandways Farm.

They said it would allow for closer ties with the village school and church and be a better replacement for the “tired, outdated” existing facility than has been proposed.

Previous plans, submitted in 2016, to redevelop the site were withdrawn.

The latest application is only for outline permission for the principle of developing the site and the location of access to the site.

A statement submitted with the plans says: “Not only does the proposal provide very significant community benefits, in the form of land for a new village hall and additional land for community use, it is also submitted at a time when the council is unable to demonstrate a deliverable five-year housing land supply.”

The outline application will be considered by councillors at the first meeting of the Dorset Council northern area planning committee on Tuesday (May 28).

They are being recommended to approve the scheme with planning officer Hannah Smith agreeing there would be “significant benefits” and no “identified harm”.

Should the scheme be approved, subsequent proposals will have to be approved by Dorset Council before any work can take place.