SWDP Review
- 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
- 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
The SWDP is a planning framework that aims to ensure development has a positive impact on the environment. It has been jointly prepared by the three authorities of Malvern Hills, Wychavon and Worcester City. It forms the heart of the new Local Development Framework.
It considers the long term vision and objectives for South Worcestershire and contains the policies for delivering these objectives in a planned and cohesive manner.
This South Worcestershire Development Plan:
- allocates larger ‘strategic' sites across South Worcestershire;
- provides policies to ensure that any development is sustainable;
- and assesses all other potential development sites whether for housing, employment, retail, education, health, community use or an open space use.
You can read more about the SWDP and access evidence base documents on the dedicated SWDP website.
South Worcestershire Development Plan Review Main Modifications Consultation
In September 2023, the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review, the Local Plan on behalf of the three South Worcestershire Councils (SWC), was submitted for Independent Examination under Regulation 22 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012. Subsequent Examination Hearing Sessions were held in March and April 2025, with an additional hearing on 4 September 2025. The Inspectors have now recommended a number of Main Modifications to the Plan in order for it to be found legally compliant and sound.
To be found sound the Local Plan must be positively prepared, justified, effective and consistent with national policy. This is a consultation on the proposed Main Modifications.
Main Modifications are substantial, material changes to a proposed plan that the independent Planning Inspector deems necessary to make the plan "sound" and legally compliant.
The Main Modifications consultation will run from Tuesday 6 January to 5pm on Tuesday 17 February 2026. As with the previous consultations, at this stage we are required to ask whether the Local Plan (with Main Modifications) is legal and meets the Tests of Soundness set out in the National Planning Policy Framework.
To view the consultation guidance, documents and submit responses to the consultation please follow this link:
South Worcestershire Development Plan Review Main Modifications - Details - Keyplan
Privacy Notices
The South Worcestershire Councils (Malvern Hills District, Worcester City and Wychavon District Councils) privacy notice can be viewed at Privacy Notice - South Worcestershire Development Plan
All representations will be sent to the Planning Inspectors, the Planning Inspectorate privacy notices can be viewed at Planning Inspectorate: privacy notices - GOV.UK
SWDP Review
The South Worcestershire Councils (SWC) i.e. Malvern Hills, Worcester and Wychavon started a review of the SWDP in late 2017. Further information relating to the SWDP review can be found on the SWDP website.
SWDP Review Submission
On Wednesday 27 September 2023, following the Regulation 19 consultation in November and December 2022, the south Worcestershire Councils have formally submitted the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review (SWDPR) and associated evidence base documents to the Secretary of State for independent examination.
An independent Inspector will be appointed by the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) to assess the Plan and its accompanying evidence base. The Inspector will take into account the representations received at the Regulation 19 consultation stage and will likely identify matters to consider as part of the examination. Subsequently, the Council and interested parties will be invited to attend a series of hearing sessions.
The south Worcestershire Councils have appointed a Programme Officer to organise and administer the examination, including the anticipated public hearing sessions. The timings of these sessions will be confirmed in due course.
A dedicated Examination web page has been created and all relevant documents are available to view at South Worcestershire Development Plan Review | Local Plan Examination Services (localplanservices.co.uk).