Vision for South Worcestershire’s future takes shape

Please note that the location for the meeting on 3rd July is at the BANK HOUSE HOTEL in Bransford and NOT the Council House as stated in the local newspapers.

Following a major public consultation which attracted around 10,000 responses, a range of proposed changes to the plan that will guide economic development and housing in South Worcestershire has been published.

The South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP) is being jointly developed by Malvern Hills District Council, Worcester City Council and Wychavon District Council. Once adopted, it will form the basis for planning decisions across South Worcestershire until 2030.

Planning officers at the three councils have analysed the responses to the consultation – following the publication of the initial version of the SWDP in September last year – and have also taken into account Government changes to planning rules, plus official statistics on population growth and housing need in preparing a range of proposed changes to the Plan.

The recommended changes will be considered by each of the three councils at special meetings on  3rd July. The Bank House Hotel, Bransford will host the Malvern Hills meeting from 7pm, but there are two other meetings taking place in Worcester City and Wychavon. If the councils back the proposals, there will then be a series of public consultations on the “Significant Changes” from 6th August to 14th September.

He said: “The consultation held last year was a great success, with more than 2,000 people and organisations submitting over 10,000 responses to the SWDP. That was boosted by a series of 40 consultation events held across South Worcestershire, which attracted around 4,000 people.

We’re committed to keeping the public involved in this process so I want to urge people to get involved again and give us their opinions on the changes which are now being recommended."

The next set of consultations will be to give people the chance to submit their views on the recommended  Significant Changes. There will also be a series of roadshows where people can examine details of the recommended Significant Changes and register their views.  Copies of the proposals will be available to view at council offices, public libraries and customer contact centres.

Highlights of the recommended Significant Changes for Malvern Hills are:

• An increase in the number of dwellings proposed for Tenbury from 30 to 70, with the extra 40 on the east of Oldwood Road
• A reduction in the number of homes to be built at Holly Green in Upton-upon-Severn from 50 to 25. 18 dwellings are recommended for a new site at Tunnel Hill
• A revised policy  aimed at redeveloping the QinetiQ site in Malvern, renaming it the Malvern Innovation and Technology Park and strengthening its links with the Malvern Hills Science Park
• A range of changes to villages in Malvern Hills district, including 46 homes in Hallow and reductions in the numbers of homes proposed for Clifton-upon-Teme, Martley and Abberley
• 10 homes are proposed in Welland next to The Pheasant public house
• The removal of proposals to build 24 homes on land off Welland Road, Malvern

For further Information on the South Worcestershire Development Plan please visit the website http://www.swdevelopmentplan.org/ 

For details of the full council meeting taking place on 3rd July follow this link SWDP meeting.
This will take place at the Bank House Hotel, Bransford from 7pm and NOT at the Council House as printed by the local paper.