A VILLAGE hall to revitalise the community of Rock has been approved by planners.

The hall will have seating for 195 people and may become the site for community facilities such as a sub post-office and library.

It will stand between ancient and modern sites on open land to the south of Porchbrook Land.

The hall was originally to be built in an adjoining field until the medieval village of Rock was found there last year.

It will now stand between the medieval village and a millennium green.

Rock and Ribbesford district councillor Dr Reg Johnstone was pleased with the plan as the old village hall was dilapidated.

He said: "The existing village hall is structurally unsafe and now the focus of village life will go down the road.

"It is appropriate to have the new village hall on land next to the millennium green."

A report to the planning (development control) committee said Worcestershire County Council Archaeological Service has found evidence of some settlement on the site but not enough to suggest major occupation.

Applicant Rock Parish Council plans to maximise the building's use as part of the Vital Villages project.

District council development control chief Mike Parker said: "Consideration is being given to the possibility of providing a retail drop-off point, sub post-office, information technology facilities and a base for library facilities.

"The current internal layout of the building does allow for such activity to take place within the building."

The building will be environmentally-friendly with a ground source energy system and a wind turbine to generate electricity.