FORMER newspaper tycoon Eddy Shah's plans for holiday lodges near Wootton Bassett look likely to get the go-ahead.

Officers from North Wiltshire District Council are set to urge councillors to give the green light to the multi-million pound plans when the council's development control committee meets on Wednesday.

The change of heart comes after Mr Shah, reduced the number of homes in the plan from 72 to 44.

Previously, he had been refused permission for the development when officers said the scale of the project would have "an adverse impact on the appearance and character of the rural landscape."

Now after the officers say they think the plans are acceptable although it is up to the councillors to vote on the matter.

Wootton Bassett's town council has given its full support to the project, as it believes it will bring employment and tourists to the area.

Other letters of support say that the development is on the correct side of Wootton Bassett stopping it from encroaching towards Swindon.

But the Council for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) continues to object to the scheme saying it would probably use inappropriate materials and that the design would not respect the local landscape.

Previous plans had been for as many as 123 lodges.

Mr Shah estimates that once the development is complete it would create 30 new jobs and inject around £1.5m into the Wootton Bassett economy.