A Somerset church has sought permission to expand its graveyard into a previously unused portion of land.

The recent planning application by St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church proposed a change of use for a parcel of land located to the east of the church’s cemetery, which was obtained through a deed of exchange in 2012.

“The deed of exchange was facilitated by the approval of a plan of subdivision by boundary adjustment in 2010 involving the church and the adjoining landowner,” the application stated.

“The subdivision resulted in the transfer of a small area of church land at the northern end of the property to the adjoining landowner and the abandonment of a right of way across that landowner’s property, in exchange for the transfer of the rectangular parcel of land.

“The subject land was vacant at the time of the subdivision and deed of exchange and has been unused by the church since that time.”

The application said that the church now hopes to use the land to extend its cemetery, which has a “very restricted amount of space remaining within its existing boundaries”.

The project would also include the installation of fencing to enclose the space and “absorb it into the church property”.

The planning documents added that while boats have recently been placed on the property, they are not owned by either the church or its members and are not there with permission.