PROPOSALS for ten new homes in a village look likely to be approved tomorrow - despite being in breach of planning recommendations.

Members of Taunton Deane Borough Council's planning committee will be recommended to conditionally approve Taylor Wimpey's proposals at Station Farm, in Bishops Lydeard.

The site to the west of the station has been identified by the council for tourism/recreation in connection with the West Somerset Railway expansion or employment.

But since no proposals had been forthcoming, the parish council has resigned itself to permitting the homes development.

The proposal is for three two-bedroom properties, four with three bedrooms and three with four, each with two parking spaces, along with a public open space.

A planning officer's report to tomorrow night's meeting recommended demanding the developers agreeing to two of the smaller properties being 'discounted open market dwellings' at 75 per cent open market value in perpetuity.

A report to planners from Bishops Lydeard Parish Council said: "Land west of Bishops Lydeard Station identifies the site for tourism/recreation in connection with the West Somerset Railway expansion, or employment.

"The site has not come forward for employment or tourism development and has been marketed with planning permission for a public house for many years."

It said the application is "clearly in breach" of the parish council's neighbourhood plan.

But it added: "However, the council is aware that a separate and smaller site formerly owned by Taylor Wimpey was the subject of a successful appeal for the grant of residential development at the end of last year.

"It was considered that the inspector's reasons for granting that appeal might essentially be repeated in any appeal from a refusal on the subject applications, particularly as this parcel of land

has been vacant for very many years.

"In the circumstances, and very reluctantly, the council resolved to support the application."

A TDBC officer report admitted the site is allocated "for alternatives uses", but added: "A judgement has to be made whether there is a reasonable prospect of the site being used for the allocated purposes and in this case, it is considered that there is no reasonable prospect of the site coming forward for employment or tourism uses.

"The provision of housing (including on-site affordable housing) and onsite public open space is considered to contribute to meeting the needs of the local area."