THE owners of a prominent 16th Century home in a small Somerset village have been given permission to make major changes to their property. Shipham residents were upset when plans were revealed to demolish parts of the Grade II listed Manor House in Cuck

THE owners of a prominent 16th Century home in a small Somerset village have been given permission to make major changes to their property.Shipham residents were upset when plans were revealed to demolish parts of the Grade II listed Manor House in Cuck Hill and build extensions as well as an indoor swimming pool.Sedgemoor District Council has approved the proposals despite objections from the parish council and concerns from the neighbouring St Leonard's Church.Councillors were told church wardens thought the extensions would have a serious impact on the setting of the church. They also said such large extensions would not preserve the character of the home.The parish council said the plans would have a substantial effect on the landscape and 'totally change the character of the relationship between the home and the church in an important architectural area of the village'.Parish councillors did not want to see the historic Manor House grow in size and did not understand why the application was being made when a similar one was turned down last year.They thought the swimming pool building, which will be made out of glass and wood, would be totally out of character with the village, which is typically defined by stone buildings.But planning officers told councillors, who visited the site to get a better idea of the plans, that the development would be an improvement because some of the more 'unsightly' features of the home would be demolished.The planning application was approved at a meeting of Sedgemoor's development and control committee this week.