DETAILED plans of a new housing development in Upton have been passed despite fears it could create a ‘ghetto effect’.
Up to 25 properties will be built on Ryall Road in Holly Green after a reserved matters application was given the green light, but concerns were raised the affordable housing was being ‘squashed’ together.
Speaking at a meeting of Malvern Hills District Council’s Southern Area Development Committee on Wednesday (September 23), Coun Jeremy Owenson, councillor for the area, said: “Social housing is great and I am pleased to see it in there, but I do get the feeling it has been squashed to the side of the development.
“My concerns of this development is those social houses are tiny – they are 30cm wider than the bathroom of one of the market houses.”
Coun Melanie Baker added: “I agree the social housing is squashed to one side.
“Our preferred way of putting social housing on a site is that they are mixed in within the market housing rather than one side, which will stop the ghetto effect.”
The development will include ten affordable units but Ripple Parish Council agreed with councillors’ fears and called for a ‘more inclusive design’.
Robin Jones, of the parish council, said: “We are disappointed to see this does not include any bungalows as we would have liked to have seen a variety of properties to mix the demographic of residents.
“The ten affordable houses are so small and are not mixed in the development.”
