PLANS to demolish a piggery and build five detached houses in Claines, Worcester, look set to be refused.

The proposals are for land at Hogbrook Farm, Lower Town, which is a long-established pig farm.

Existing agricultural buildings would be demolished to make way for the houses.

The piggery has a long history of causing complaints of odour nuisance both from the farm itself and from spreading slurry on pasture in the area.

In a report to members of Wychavon District Council's development control and licensing committee, an environmental health officer stated that there would be a gain to the environment if the pig farm was to be closed.

But planning officers have recommended that members of the development control and licensing committee refuse planning permission for the piggery to be used for development.

The site is in open countryside where permission for residential developments are normally refused, unless they are required for agricultural purposes, or they are a replacement for an existing home.

The plans for Hogbrook Farm will be discussed at the next development control meeting.