A former social club nestled within the Mendip Hills will provide a new base for local businesses and community activities.

The small village of Chewton Mendip lies on the A39 between Wells and Midsomer Norton, at the eastern edge of the Mendip Hills area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB).

Dr James Lott, founder of Working Knowledge, applied to convert the village's former social club and skittle alley on the B3114 Lower Road into a co-working hub and community space for local residents and businesses.

Mendip District Council has now given its backing to the proposals, which could be put into practice in early-2023.

The currently vacant building – which once served as the men's club for employees on the Chewton Estate – lies on the north site of Lower Road, opposite the village hall and a short distance from The Waldegrave Arms public house.

Under the proposals, Working Knowledge – which is based in the Stoke Bishop area of Bristol – will add a mezzanine floor to the building to add an additional 50 sq m of floor space, as well as restoring the upper windows and making improvements to the existing walls and roof.

The new venue will deliver a base for young professionals and apprentices to access training and support, as well as providing income for other local businesses.

A spokesman for Mitchell Eley Gould (representing Working Knowledge) said: "Bringing our apprentices to the old social club will not only help them to bond, and therefore enable them to learn more effectively, but will also bring income to other businesses in the village, including the bed-and-breakfast accommodation, the shop, pub and bakery.

"Working Knowledge has grown during the pandemic and now employs four people from the village – it would be much better to bring them out of their bedrooms to work together in the same space in a post-covid world.

"The space is being designed so that by day it is an informal office and training space, but by evenings and/ or weekends, it returns to a social space for the use of the village."

The council approved the plans through the delegated powers of its planning officers, rather than a public decision by its planning board.

Work to implement the proposals is likely to begin after Christmas.