A proposal by Great Cheverell pub landlord Gary Weston to build a house in his garden has been approved.

The proposed house, in the grounds of The Bell Inn, had divided opinion among villagers due to its modern design in a conservation area.

The house would be partially sunken into the bank and the roof and the wall facing Church Road would be planted with grass.

The Bell, in the High Street, is a Grade II listed building and is a free house.

Seventeen letters of objection and seven letters of support were sent to Wiltshire Council and planning officers recommended granting permission after the authority’s conservation officer raised no objections.

At a meeting of the council’s eastern area planning committee last Thursday, objector Ian Christie said: “The Bell Inn is Grade II listed, it is bounded by three listed buildings and a 13th century church.

“The starkly creative modern design is more akin to a World War One bunker where it will be dropped into the garden of this ancient pub. It’s the wrong building in the wrong place.”

But resident Alfred Moule said: “The design is exciting and uses the ground in an unusual and imaginative way. It’s the variety of architecture which makes our village visually stimulating.”

The committee decided to grant planning permission by five votes to one.