PLANS to build 50 homes on a farm in Welland have been rejected by councillors over fears it would have a detrimental impact on the environment.
Fears were raised about insufficient information regarding the development at Lawn Farm as several European Protected Species and their habitats in the area were threatened by the plans.
A further 80 properties have already been approved in the village but proposals on the Drake Street land, which is owned by district councillor Coun Roger Cousins, were unanimously knocked back by the Southern Area Development Management Committee.
Coun Don Atkinson, Little Malvern and Welland Parish Council, said: “This truly represents over development of the site.
“It would have a detrimental impact on the environment, it would set a precedent for future applications and residents already have great concerns about flooding in that area.
“We don’t have the infrastructure to support another 50 homes, we already need time to integrate the other 80 dwellings that have been approved for this area.”
The development, which falls outside the revised South Worcestershire Development Plan, would have included 40 per cent affordable homes but Worcestershire Wildlife Trust highlighted the effect it would have on bats and newts as a reason for refusal.
Coun Bronwen Behan added: “This number of properties would have quite a big effect on the area.
“There have been concerns over the land and the footpaths and this development would interfere with the bulk of those.”
It is the second time in two weeks a district councillor has had a planning application on their land rejected, following on from the refusal to build 21 properties on land in Alfrick owned by council leader Coun David Hughes.
