A BID for six new homes that could help to secure the future of a village pub are up for discussion by Wiltshire Council planners next Wednesday.

It will be the second time housing proposals for land at the back of the Vale of the White Horse in Minety have been before Wiltshire Council's northern area planning committee. A previous application for eight houses was withdrawn.

Landlord Jamie Denman’s request for outline planning permission has been backed by the parish council.

He wants to use profit from the sale of the houses to invest in the pub after trying and failing to attract a buyer for it as a going concern.

His agent’s statement explained the size and the layout of the pub meant it was not viable without letting rooms.

The application was on the basis that all the proceeds from the houses would be spent on providing guest accommodation in the pub.

In a report to the committee, case officer Lee Burman said the development was against planning policy because it was on the outskirts of the village.

But he concluded the benefits included “the contribution to the retention of a valued local community facility and service, in terms of the public house.

“In addition, the provision for affordable housing arising from the development is also a benefit of considerable weight in the planning balance, as identified in guidance issued by the Government and a range of appeal decisions."

He recommends that the committee, which meets next Wednesday, delegates authority to the area development manager to grant permission subject to conditions and a legal agreement guaranteeing the money the development raises is reinvested in the pub’s letting rooms.