WORCESTER councillors have hit out at emerging pre-planning proposals for development at Church Farm – a site located within the green belt.
The site, in Claines, is owned by R H Phillips & Co and Church Farm (Worcestershire) Ltd, and is being promoted by Summix.
The proposals are currently at pre-application stage, an early and informal part of the planning process where developers seek initial feedback from planning officers before deciding whether to submit a full application. No formal application has yet been submitted and no decisions have been made.
Pre-application discussions are typically treated as confidential at this stage. However, Coun Jessie Jagger and Coun Mel Allcott were provided with early information in their capacity as Liberal Democrat group leaders on a ‘need to know’ basis.
Following this, the councillors sought clarity on what could be shared publicly and pushed for information to be released at the earliest appropriate opportunity, with the agreement of the developers, to ensure transparency.
Their main concern, alongside ward councillor Karen Holmes, was the land in question lies within the designated green belt, and the site is not included in the recently approved South Worcestershire Development Plan Review.
Claines is also a designated Conservation Area, recognised for its historic and architectural importance.
Coun Allcott said: “Residents will understandably be concerned to hear that development is being explored on green belt land. We have seen proposals like this before, and community engagement has been crucial in shaping outcomes.
“The green belt designation is a significant factor, and any proposal would need to be carefully tested against that.”
Coun Jagger added: “Pre-application discussions are often not public at this stage, so it was important to us that residents were made aware as early as possible once we were able to do so.
“We will continue to engage constructively, but we are clear that we will stand up for our residents and ensure their views are fully represented as this progresses.”
