NEWS: Call for sites launched for new South Worcestershire Local Plan
Landowners and developers are being invited to put forward sites to be considered for future development as part of the next version of the Local Plan for South Worcestershire.
A “call for sites” has been issued by Malvern Hills District, Worcester City and Wychavon District Councils as part of the start of work on the Local Plan.
The call for sites is not a consultation but an information gathering exercise. Typically, it allows developers, agents, landowners and site promoters to put forward land they would like to see included in the new Local Plan, although individuals and organisations can also make suggestions. Sites can be submitted by visiting https://consult.swlocalplan.org and filling in the online form.
Land can be suggested for a variety of uses including housing developments, new towns or villages, self-build and custom housebuilding, gypsy and/or traveller pitches, employment land such as industrial, retail and distribution parks, as well as for leisure, recreation and community facilities.
Submission of a site does not mean it will be automatically included in the new Plan or planning permission has or will be granted. Instead, it allows planners an early understanding of what land is potentially available for development and for what purpose.
All sites submitted will be assessed for suitability as part of the housing and economic land availability assessment. This will then inform future work on the Plan. A formal scoping consultation will take place in September. This will give the public a say on what issues the new Local Plan should address, where future housing and employment growth should be focused, the type of homes communities need, how the plan can support the creation of new jobs and town centres, as well as transport, infrastructure and protection for the environment.
Further consultations will take place on the content of the Plan during the process, which is expected to take 30 months from the end of October.
Although the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review (SWDPR) was adopted in March this year, a new plan is needed due to changes by Government on the national method to calculate housing need in local authorities. This means the required numbers of homes across South Worcestershire has significantly increased. To ensure the three councils can continue to show enough land is available to meet demand for housing, it needs to be properly planned for.
The new plan will eventually replace the SWDPR and cover the period up to 2049.
Cllr Pat Agar, Chair of the South Worcestershire Local Plan Joint Advisory Panel overseeing preparation of the new Plan, said: “This is a very early information-gathering exercise which will help us understand what land may be available and start building the evidence needed to plan for future development in the right places.
“There will be plenty of opportunities for residents and communities to get involved and have their say once work on the new plan formally begins, and I hope people will take those opportunities to help shape the future of South Worcestershire.”
Date: 19 August 2026