A CONTROVERSIAL site earmarked for development in Malvern Wells has been dropped in the final version of south Worcestershire’s housing plan.
An application to build 46 homes on the former playing fields on Rothwell Road was rejected by Malvern Hills District Council in April and – as revealed by The Observer – residents called for the site to be taken out of the South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP).
And campaigners got their wish as the land was removed from the final set of proposed changes to the SWDP.
The blueprint, which is being jointly prepared by Malvern Hills District Council, Worcester City Council and Wychavon District Council, is aimed at providing a long-term vision up to 2030 for housing and the economy.
Coun Melanie Baker, portfolio holder for housing at MHDC and chair of the SWDP joint advisory panel, said: “The testing of the SWDP through the public hearings has proven our approach and the plan’s strategy are essentially sound.
“We now need to focus on making a series of largely technical policy changes, and I would urge south Worcestershire residents to make their voices heard in the upcoming consultation on these latest main modifications.
“We will then reach the stage when the inspector can formally judge the plan and the councils can move on to its adoption.”
MHDC will be asked to agree to launch a consultation on the latest proposals at a full council meeting on Tuesday (September 22). Similar meetings will be held by Worcester and Wychavon on September 30.
If approved, the new consultation will run from October 9 to November 20 and will only concern the changes now being proposed.
Visit www.swdevelopmentplan.org for more information.
