New homes could still be built near a major Somerset tourist attraction after an appeal was lodged.

Wookey Hole Ltd. – which owns Wookey Hole Caves – applied in March 2020 to redevelopment the Homestead Park site on High Street in Wookey Hole near Wells, seeking to replace a four-bedroom house and three park homes with nine three-bedroom properties.

Mendip District Council's planning board refused the plans in May 2022, citing concerns about over-development, the adverse impact of local residents and the lack of amenity space.

But this decision could be overturned in a matter of months after Wookey Hole Ltd. lodged a formal appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.

Ivor Tetley, who lives in Wookey Hole, stated in May 2022 that the development represented "the right place, but definitely the wrong houses".

He added: "The development will be very visible from the road through the village and from footpaths, including the very popular West Mendip Way. It doesn't contribute positively to local identity."

The West Mendip Way runs for 30 miles between Weston-super-Mare and Wells, via Cheddar and much of the Mendip Hills area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB).

Separate plans for50 new homes on Wookey Hole Road in Wells, near the eastern end of the path, were refused by the council in June 2022.

Councillor Edric Hobbs said the vehicles which would use the development's proposed 29 car parking spaces would add problems to an already dangerous rural road.

He said: "Nobody respects the speed limit in this village – they fly around that corner. It's going to add a lot of blooming vehicles which aren't needed to the area.

"This village is very visible from Arthur's Point and other parts of the Mendips – these homes will stand out like a sore thumb."

De Courcy town planning consultants (representing Wookey Hole Ltd.) said the plans complied with both central government guidance and the council's own planning policies regarding parking and residential amenity.

A spokesman said: "The proposals would make effective use of underutilised previously developed land that lies within a settlement deemed suitable to accommodate further housing development.

"The proposed design of the dwellings and the pallet of materials chosen would reinforce the distinctive character of the village; their context would significantly improve the appearance of the site in the public realm.

"The layout proposed would be respectful of its neighbours and would not result in an unacceptable overbearing impact or loss of privacy."

The Planning Inspectorate has confirmed that the appeal will be conducted through written representations, rather than a public inquiry.

A decision is expected to be published in the early-spring, once a site visit has been undertaken.