A SWIMMING pool and a padel court could be built at a house in North Cheriton.

The scheme, for Lower Farm House, in The Old Rectory Lane, would see a riding school removed and returned to agricultural land, while a pool and padel – a variation of tennis – court installed.

“Our clients wish to add a new swimming pool and padel court to serve Lower Farm House, for their own private use,” the application, by Brimble Lea on behalf of Tom Wright, said.

“The land required is currently in agricultural use, so the development will involve a change of use of this land to create an extension to the domestic curtilage of this property.

“As a trade-off for removing the riding arena, our client wishes to add a swimming pool and padel court, which will occupy a combined footprint of 750sqm.

“This will result in an overall net gain of 42sqm of agricultural land.”

The application said new tree planting will be positioned around parts of the new pool and padel court.

Padel is a variation of tennis, played on a smaller court

“The swimming pool will not be visible within the wider landscape setting, as it will be built into the existing contour of the land, and will be well screened by new and existing tree planting,” it added.

It said the proposals would result in a “net increase in the amount of agricultural land”, and have been “sensitively designed”.

Lower Farm House is set in 19 acres in North Cheriton, near Templecombe and is believed to be wroth around £2 million.

The scheme will now be considered by planners at Somerset Council. For more details, and to comment on the application, log on to www.somerset.gov.uk.

A guide to how the pool and padel court could be laid out. Picture: Brimble Lea/Somerset Council