NEWS: Adopted SWDPR to guide long-term growth
A long-term plan for growth that will deliver thousands of new homes, key infrastructure and opportunities for job creation has been approved by councils across South Worcestershire.
The South Worcestershire Development Plan Review (SWDPR) was officially adopted by Malvern Hills District, Worcester City and Wychavon district councils at meetings earlier this week.
Under the Plan, more than 25,000 new homes need to be delivered by 2041 with 6,175 already built.
Crucially, the councils can now show they have enough land for housing over the next five years, meaning the ‘tilted balance’ – which favours the approval of planning applications unless the harms of a proposed development significantly outweigh the benefits – no longer applies. Instead, housing and economic growth must be delivered according to the polices in the SWDPR and planners are in a stronger position to turn down those that don’t.
Having the SWDPR in place is also vital to delivering Wychavon Town and major housing sites at Rushwick and Mitton, providing certainty to residents and confidence to businesses looking to invest in the area. The Plan links growth to infrastructure and will help deliver the schools, transport improvements, and healthcare facilities needed to support new housing.
Some 300 hectares of employment land is also allocated within the Plan, which will support businesses to grow and create jobs. Other key policies include those that will enhance the environment and help tackle climate change.
Cllr David Harrison, Chair of the SWDPR Joint Advisory Panel, said: “Fewer than a third of councils have adopted a Local Plan in the last five years, so this is a significant achievement and a result of the tireless work of our officers over many years.
“With the SWDPR now in place, we have a clear framework to guide development across south Worcestershire to 2041. It will help ensure new homes are delivered in the right places, supported by the infrastructure communities need, while giving the councils stronger grounds to refuse speculative and inappropriate development not backed by the Plan.”
The councils also agreed to start work on a new joint plan to meet the Government’s increased housing targets, which were introduced while the SWDPR was in the examination phase, where it is scrutinised by Planning Inspectors.
Under the Government’s new rules, the councils must formally start the Plan making process by the end of October this year. Currently it takes an average of six to seven years for a Local Plan to be adopted, however changes to the way Plans are prepared should allow for the process to be completed within 30 months.