Plans to redevelop an abandoned Somerset farm slammed as a “total eyesore” by the local community have been turned down — for the fifth time.

Halfway Farm’s overgrown and abandoned farmhouse — which owners say should only be entered “with extreme caution” — stands over the B131 between Chew Magna and Pensford, along with other dilapidated farm buildings.

After four attempts to get permission to demolish the farm buildings and build four to five homes on the site were refused by Bath and North East Somerset Council, Owners Mr and Mrs Gibson tried to get approval for a barn conversion at the farm. But now this has been refused by the council too.

The Gibsons submitted their fifth attempt to redevelop the site, in June, drawing up plans to convert the large concrete barn at the rear of the site, as seen from the road, into a four bedroom bungalow. Plans showed that the vacant Dutch barns and concrete structures surrounding the planned conversion would have been demolished, but the farmhouse by the road would remain.

With no structural works planned, the Gibsons hoped it would qualify for approval to convert an agricultural building into a dwelling — rather than needing to try and apply for full planning permission again.

The plans had the full backing of the local parish council. In a statement of support of the Gibson’s plans, Stanton Drew Parish Council said: “ In their current state the buildings are a total eyesore, they continue to deteriorate and there have been issues with vandalism on the site.”

The parish council added: “Stanton Drew Parish Council fully supports the principle of redeveloping this redundant and dilapidated site.”

But planning officers once again refused the plans, raising concerns it could lead to more people walking along the B-road.

Officers stated: “Given the nature of the road and lack of a footway or street lighting the scheme fails to demonstrate that safe access to the site can be achieved for non-vehicular highway users. As such, it is considered that the scheme poses a significant risk to highway safety in the immediate vicinity of the site.”

Officers added that information had also not been submitted about how wildlife would be protected.

The previous plans had been turned down over being “inappropriate development” in the green belt, but the Gibsons said they were “extremely disappointed” with this assessment. They said: “Halfway Farm is in the green belt but can not be considered a “green field” due to the dilapidated farmhouse and range of farm buildings and associated hard standings.”

LDRS, John Wimperis