New houses could be built in the centre of Paulton next to the Methodist Church.

Plans have been submitted to Bath and North East Somerset Council to redevelop a small area just south of Wesley Hall. The plot of land once hosted an infants school, but has stood empty since this was demolished about fifty years ago.

Now two four-bedroom two-storey homes could now be built there, if planning permission is granted.

A design and access statement submitted with the planning application states: "The proposed dwellings are traditionally styled, using rubble stone of the area on the front elevations, in sympathy with the church."

Plans state the new homes will be far enough for neighbouring dwellings not to overshadow them.

The statement said: "The church are applying for an application in order to raise funds and to be able to look after their listed community buildings for the future, which form an important part of the local community.

"The site has, until recently, been gardened by keen gardening enthusiasts, but other than that, the site has no value to the church."

The Methodist Church itself was built in 1894 but several of the surrounding buildings are much older, with "the cottage" across the street and next to the Lamb Inn believed to date from around 1700 and be one of the original buildings of the farming and quarrying settlement that became Paulton.

The Wesley Hall was built as an extension of the Methodist Church in 1959 and stands between the church and the site for the new houses.

Bath and North East Somerset Council will aim to decide whether to grant planning permission by October 27.

You can view and comment on the application here: https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/webforms/planning/details.html?refval=23%2F03270%2FFUL#details_Section