CONCERNS have been raised about the impact a major new development on the outskirts of the city could have on St John’s.
Developer Hallam Land Management is planning to build up to 800 homes, a primary school and health centre on land north of Bromyard Road and to the west of Dines Green and the recent development at Earls Court Farm.
An outline application was submitted to Malvern Hills District Council in September, as the site lies within its borders, but before the multi-million pound project is considered for approval, Worcester City Council’s planning committee were given the chance to have their say at a meeting on Thursday (January 23).
Councillors did not object to the principal of the ambitious project, which will be create on land allocated for an urban extension in the emerging South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP), but they stressed it could have an impact on the city.
Coun Derek Prodger said: “We need to be very mindful that it doesn’t damage the sustainability of St John’s, the shopping centre and the schools in the area.
“We must be very careful to not destroy that sustainability. This is a massive area for planning, but the infrastructure must be capable of accommodating that.”
A report, which spells out a series of concerns about the development, will be sent to Malvern Hills District Council and Coun Lynn Denham added: “There has been a lot of work gone into this. The report recognises that this development is on the edge of our city and people who move there will be living in over city.
“We must involve that development in our city while protecting St John’s retail development and our schools.”
The report also includes comments from local residents as Anthony Mansell, who lives in the Earls Court, which lies next to the proposed development told councillors at the meeting that he fears it would cause traffic problems.
“Any footpaths that are proposed to link up these two sites must be denied as Earls Park will become rat run to the school,” he said. “We cannot see any footpaths allowing access from Earls Park, but we have a threat hanging over us that the development will be joined up.
“Obviously we pay our rates to Worcester City Council and we feel that it is not fair to expect that we are just going to put up with what Malvern Hill District Council come up with.”
The Observer contacted Hallam Land Management, but had not received a response by the time of going to press.
