Planning Policy
- Search for Applications
- Making a Planning Application
- Heritage and Conservation
- Planning Policy
- Neighbourhood Planning
- Designated Neighbourhood Areas
- Abberley Neighbourhood Plan
- Broadwas and Cotheridge Neighbourhood Plan
- Malvern Town Neighbourhood Plan
- Hanley Castle Parish Neighbourhood Plan
- Clifton upon Teme Neighbourhood Plan
- Kempsey Neighbourhood Plan
- Martley, Knightwick and Doddenham Neighbourhood Plan
- Hallow Neighbourhood Plan
- Leigh & Bransford Neighbourhood Plan
- Welland Neighbourhood Plan
- Great Witley and Hillhampton Neighbourhood Plan
- Powick Neighbourhood Plan
- Planning Policy Monitoring
- Brownfield Land Register
- Self-Build and Custom Housebuilding Register
- SWDPR Review
- Neighbourhood Planning
- Other Planning Services
- Community Infrastructure Levy
- Planning Obligations (Section 106)
- Street Naming and Numbering
- Local Land Charges
- Planning Appeals
- Planning Committee and Meetings
- Planning Conditions and Fees
- Footpath Diversions (S257)
- Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD)
- Local Development Scheme (LDS)
- Planning Weekly List
- Planning History Search
- Planning Enforcement
- South Worcestershire Building Control
Planning Policy
The Planning Policy team is responsible for preparing plans covering what can be built and where; creating policies protecting the built and natural environment and the delivery of good design; implementing the Local Development Scheme; ensuring economic competitiveness, and monitoring the efficiency of the plans and policy in effect. Malvern Hills District Council has worked with Wychavon District and Worcester City Councils to prepare a joint Local Plan covering the three Local Authority areas.
The South Worcestershire Development Plan Review (SWDPR) came into effect on 26 March 2026, covering the period from 2021 to 2041.
south worcestershire development plan website
Planning applications are determined by either the Local Planning Authority (i.e. Malvern Hills District Council) or the Planning Inspectorate, and in exceptional circumstances the Secretary of State. The decisions have to be principally based on the application of planning policy.
The National Planning Policy Framework sets out the priorities for planning in England and places significant emphasis on sustainable development, and the requirement to reflect presumption of sustainable development in Local Plans.
national planning policy framework
Other areas of Planning Policy work
The following links will provide more information on the various aspects of the Planning Policy team's work.
Neighbourhood Planning
Neighbourhood Plans allow a partnership of communities including businesses, residents and interested parties to develop policies that, subject to an independent examination and community referendum, will become part of the planning framework for land uses in their local area.
Policy Monitoring
Reports progress against the timetable set out in the Local Development Schemes (LDS) and assesses the extent to which the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review (SWDPR) policies are being implemented.
Supplementary Planning Documents
The Sustainable Building and Construction SPD provide advice to assist in the implementation of planning policies in the 2026 South Worcestershire Development Plan Review (SWDPR). What it cannot do is add additional policies or requirements over and above the Local Plan policies or Building Regulations. Specifically, the SPD applies to SWDPR 01 Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation; SWDPR 05 Design and Sustainable Construction and SWDPR 28 Design are relevant to the SPD.
sustainable building and construction spd
Brownfield Land Register
Brownfield land registers are intended to provide up-to-date and consistent information on sites that local authorities consider to be appropriate for residential development.
Self-Build and Custom Housebuilding Register
The self build register makes it easier for us to identify the demand for suitable building plots in the Wychavon district.
self-build and custom housebuilding register
Local Development Schemes (LDS)
The LDS is a project management document which sets out the council priorities for producing planning policy documents over the coming three years.
The Local Development Scheme has two main purposes:
a) To inform the public about the preparation of planning documents; and
b) To establish and reflect council priorities and enable work programmes to be set for the preparation of the documents.
Whilst this LDS is specific to Malvern Hills District Council, much of the content is shared with Wychavon District Council and Worcester City Council.
malvern hills local development scheme 2021 pdf
Statement of Community Involvement (SCI)
Sets out what Malvern Hills District Council will do to involve the community, and other stakeholders in the preparation and revision of planning policy documents and decisions on planning applications. The Statement of Community Involvement has been temporarily updated to reflect the current situation with regard to Covid-19 restrictions.
malvern hills statement of community involvement 2020 pdf
Parish, town plan or village design statement
A Parish or Town Plan is a document setting out how a particular town, village, parish or locality wants to develop over the next decade or so and can cover a variety of social, economic, environmental planning issues. It should reflect the views of all sections of the community, obtained through local consultation. It also includes a plan of action setting out how the priorities will be addressed.
Contact us
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us on (01386) 565565 or alternatively email the Planning Policy Team at
For Neighbourhood Planning queries, you can also contact the team via the below email addresses: