A TOTAL of 230 homes are set to be built on the edge of Worcester after planners gave two new housing estates the green light.
Last Thursday (October 9) two separate applications were submitted to Wychavon District Council’s planning committee for the properties to be built on Gwillams Farm in Bevere.
Cala Homes Midlands Ltd want to build 128 homes on the Ombersley Road site while Bellway Homes will create a separate development on the same piece of agricultural land consisting of 102 homes.
Part of the emerging South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP), the Cala Homes site, which had outline plans approved in February, spans 11.5 hectares and will contain 51 affordable homes.
Coun Tony Miller, ward member for Claines, said: “It’s taken a lot of time to get to this point and I’m disappointed we have not been able to get all three developers together to produce a cohesive plan over the whole site.
“But it hasn’t happened, we are where we are and it’s unfortunate.”
Coun Adrian Darby added: “I think there is a lot of evidence that the applicant have clearly tried to address the issues.
“Of course it would be better from everyone’s point of view if this site had not been included in the SWDP but it is, it’s one of the principal sites to fulfil Worcester’s housing needs and I think the officers have done a good job with it.”
That was echoed by Coun Ken Jennings who praised the officers and said he would like to congratulate everyone concerned in reaching the ‘happy situation’.
Councillors unanimously approved the development.
The Bellway Homes development will include 40 per cent affordable homes on the 4.47 hectares of land but Coun Miller was disappointed with the access coming out on to Green Lane, which had been established in the original outline permission.
“We look at this plan and there’s a fault with it and that is the fact it is coming out on to Green Lane,” he added.
“I know why it was done but it is not good that these houses come out to Green Lane, you had adequate space to make the in and out off the Ombersley Road yet this one has been chosen.
“I don’t agree with it I don’t like it and if I could I would change that. That is a narrow lane to have all these car movements come along, it is not right.
“I don’t know what we can do about it but I certainly don’t like.”
