A FARM'S plan to build a new visitor and education building looks set to be allowed after a council report recommended approval.

Churchfields Farm near Droitwich has put forward plans to build a new building to house a visitor centre, education and play area, classrooms and livestock pens to allow visitors to interact with the animals.

An outdoor playing and learning area as well as livestock paddocks would also be built next to the new building.

Planning officers at Wychavon District Council have recommended the plan should be approved when councillors meet later this afternoon (July 23).

The council planning report said: "The building will help to secure the long-term success of the overall Churchfields Farm business and will be of benefit to the local population through job creation and through the provision of a high-quality, educational rural facility for the local community.

"The development will significantly strengthen the business out of season and on wetter days in the peak season, making it less of a seasonal operation and will ultimately help to secure the long-term future of this well-established farming business.

"The proposal would also provide a safe, healthy and educational playing environment attraction alongside the existing outdoor activities."

The dairy farm already has permission to build on the land but the previous plans were for various feeding and other farming buildings rather than a building for visitors.

The visitor building would be roughly the same size and scale as the farm buildings put forward previously.

Various plans to cater for tourists have been approved at the farm in recent years including an ice cream parlour, farm shop, children's play area and a maze.

The farm said building more facilities for visitors would make it more sustainable for the future and was "essential" for allowing it to carry on being successful.

Several neighbours in Ladywood Road had objected to the plan largely concerned by more visitors meaning more cars on narrow rural roads around the farm.

Highways officers at Worcestershire County Council have raised no objections.

Hindlip, Salwarpe and Martin Hussingtree Parish Council said the building would "add to the success of the well-established farm business."

Wychavon District Council's planning committee meets from 2pm today.