Residents of Wiveliscombe are getting the chance to voice their opinions on plans to transform a historic former brewery into affordable housing and an employment hub.

The Golden Hill Brewery is set to become 25 flats and an employment hub if the plans, which have been submitted by the Somerset Co-operative Community Land Trust, are approved.

The brewery, which is on a brownfield site, was in use from Georgian times up until 2015, and is considered to be of historic value to the town.

A decision on the plans, which will be made by the county council, is expected before the end of the year.

The plans would see several of the buildings on the site being demolished, but will preserve the historical tower and the surrounding block.

As well as the flats, the development would include commercial space for small business, 20 car parking spaces and a cycle store.

The plans are currently open for comments on the Somerset West and Taunton County Council website.

Some comments on the application suggest that the site has “insufficient space” for the development, that the three-storey flats will “drastically” change the landscape of Wiveliscombe, and that there is “nowhere near enough” proposed parking, with one resident calling the plans “complete madness”.

However, other comments support the proposal, saying that it will be a “great local resource”, providing “much-needed housing” and is an “exciting development”.

A spokesperson from consultants Avalon Planning and Heritage said: "The main block and rear elevation create a more intimate space at the heart of the application site, from which the monumentality of the brewery tower can be enjoyed.

"The height and scale of the proposed scheme responds appropriately to that of the brewery tower and the surrounding brewery buildings."