THE FUTURE of a farm-based activity centre for people with special needs depends on whether it wins planning permission to move and allow houses to be built on its present site.

The trustees of Larkrise Community Farm are hoping West Wiltshire District Council will allow an estate of 105 homes to be built on their current site and approve the farm's move further land along West Ashton Road.

The farm's landlords, George Wimpey Strategic Land, want to develop the land between Blackball Bridge, the River Biss and West Ashton Road and have offered the farm a new home.

The farm, which has been operating as a charity since 1989, is considered a valuable hands-on training ground for west Wiltshire children and adults with special needs.

The move would enable it to create purpose-built facilities and expand its educational activities.

Peter Morris, chairman of the trustees for Larkrise Farm, said: "The move and relocation is vital to our survival. We have an old set of buildings, which are not all that attractive for getting new clients so we have been depending on donations and sponsorship.

"We are the only facility of this kind in this community offering hands-on experiences for people with special needs and we need buildings that are commensurate for the year 2002."

The trustees are relying on receiving money from the Community Lottery Fund but they cannot apply for this until planning permission has been received.

"It's a chicken and egg situation," Mr Morris added. "We we could be busier if we had new facilities and we could have new facilities if we had the money but we can't get any funding unless we have planning permission. If we don't get planning approval this year, then we have great doubts whether we can survive."

Jeremy Sutcliffe, strategic land manager at George Wimpey, said: "We are delighted we have been able to help Larkrise Community Farm to find much-needed new premises. Planning permission will help the farm's trustees secure its financial future and we will do all we can to help them succeed."