Developers Submit Planning Application For Mass Housing

9.29.00am GMT Wed 6th Jan 2010

Richard Burt revealed today that developers submitted a planning application immediately before Christmas for up to 3,950 houses on land earmarked for housing development on green land West of Worcester surrounding Hallow and Broadheath

The application to Malvern Hills District Council, made on behalf of Bloor Homes of Tewkesbury, is for even greater numbers than the 3,500 proposed by Malvern Hills, Wychavon and Worcester City Councils through their South Worcestershire Joint Core Strategy.

In a letter to some local residents a representative for Bloor Homes asks for the information to be kept secret to avoid any 'public relations problems' in the management of the application for the company or the local authority.

Speaking today, Richard said: "Residents in Broadheath and Hallow will be horrified to learn of these plans.

"In developers terms, this acts as the starting gun for the South Worcestershire gold rush.

"The secretive way this application is being handled will also confirm residents' worst fears about the South Worcestershire Joint Core Strategy.

"Whilst the three councils involved pretend that they are in control of a situation they have created, developers are now circling to extract maximum advantage from the opportunity they have been given.

"Development on this scale is totally inappropriate and would destroy these village communities, dumping a town the size of Pershore on their doorstep.

"The only people who stand to benefit massively are Bloor Homes and some local landowners with options to sell their land."