VILLAGERS will benefit from new sports fields and a village hall thanks to the development plans of a local company.

Family-run vegetable company Simms and Woods wants to build 30 affordable homes on its old site in Wyre Piddle but after consultation with villagers has also included a new village hall, playing fields, a cricket pitch and changing rooms, a children's play area and countryside walkways.

The company, now based in Upper Moor, wants to use its former home to leave a lasting legacy in the village where it has operated for half a century.

The application is likely to be discussed at a meeting of the Wychavon District Council's development control committee later this month.

Director James Massingham said: "We consulted the village through a number of questionnaires earlier this year, to see what we could do that would be of benefit to them and these plans are what we have come up with.

"Since we now operate from Upper Moor we decided that we didn't want to just leave Wyre Piddle, and let another business take our place as that would have increased traffic flow and it would be more beneficial to build affordable homes in the area.

"It was the sports facilities that were the most popular part of the plans so we're happy to be providing some and we hope to secure planning permission in the coming weeks to allow us to start work."