PLANS to build 200 new homes on much-loved rural land have been halted by Worcester City Council.
The council’s planning committee met last Thursday (May 21) and agreed to be ‘mindful to refuse’ the development on Middle Battenhall Farm on the southern edge of Worcester and described it as ‘perverse’ and ‘premature’.
Seven councillors voted in favour of the motion and four against, putting the development off until assessments can be made on the area to determine if it will be one of the South Worcestershire’s Development Plans’ (SWDP) suggested places to build upon.
The position of Historic England, formerly known as English Heritage, was also questioned as to whether they believe the development would ruin the historical aspect of area.
Jason Whittall spoke on behalf of the objectors.
“We must not stand by and let this last great part of Worcester to be affected by the cancer which will take away the very character that Worcester is famous for,” he said.
He went on to tell councillors there were 67 reasons to block the development including prematurity, the fact the area is a flood point and that wildlife in the area would need relocating.
Speaking for the developers, Miller Homes, Simon Barry and Julie Morgan said the site was not considered green belt land and could address the council’s responsibility for a five-year housing supply.
They argued the 200 homes would also bring in £1.8 million in council tax.
Couns Simon Cronin, Richard Boorn and Steve Mackay put forward arguments to save the farm and called it an ‘inappropriate’ place to develop.
They feared the loss of a historical piece of land that had connections to the Battle of Worcester.
Coun Mackay said: “The SWDP have worked hard to identify suitable locations to build on. This location is not deemed suitable and yet here councillors are being asked to give full approval.”
Coun Cronin said he had concerns for the traffic that would be getting on an off the roads towards the city centre. He also said Battenhall Farm has been a vital drainage system in the city since the 1800s.
Coun Robert Rowden said: “I have never had so many letters and phone calls from people regarding the same planning application.”
The site is home to a 900-year-old Scheduled Monument, with ancient ponds and a moat, as well as being considered the finest green ‘lung’ in south Worcester.
