PLANNING inspectors have confirmed the three south Worcestershire councils will have enough land to resist inappropriate housing development in the future, offering greater protection to communities.
Inspectors scrutinising the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review (SWDPR) are satisfied that Wychavon District, Worcester City and Malvern District Councils would have a five-year housing land supply, with a five per cent buffer, once it is adopted.
This means the three councils have identified enough land for the required number of homes over the next five years, with some additional land in case some housing sites aren’t developed as fast as expected.
This development has been welcomed by Vale of Evesham Civic Society head Gill Pawson, albeit with caveats.
Gill Pawson, chair of Vale of Evesham Civic Society. Picture by Marcus Mingins 3525003MMR2
“The long-awaited news that the development plan is nearing final approval is a positive step. It has taken too long to get to this stage, which has meant that developers have taken the opportunity to apply for permission for housing on land that has not been allocated for building.
“We have objected to a number of such applications in recent years, as have many local residents, but the lack of a five-year housing supply has forced the council to give permission.
“It is still going to be another six months or more before the plan will carry any weight in decisions on planning applications, but it is heading in the right direction.
She told the Observer that people will need to be alert to the possibility of more applications by builders in the next few months, hoping to take advantage of this period without a plan.
“Following final approval, it is likely that review of the plan will need to commence without delay, to ensure that the government’s requirement for Wychavon to make provision for increased levels of house building does not lead to a repeat of the current issues,” she added.
Inspectors were also happy for proposed development land at Worcester South, Rushwick, Worcestershire Parkway and Mitton to be included as allocated housing sites.
The confirmation follows a series of public hearings to examine the plan to ensure it is sound and legally compliant, along with additional evidence provided by the three councils about progress on the Worcester South Urban extensions.
The SWDPR can now move on to the next stage of the process, where all the changes proposed by the inspectors – known as main modifications – will be consulted on either later this year or early in 2026.
They are mainly technical changes to fix any issues that could delay the document from being found sound and legally compliant. The consultation will give residents and organisations the chance to highlight any issues arising from the modifications only.
All comments will be sent to the inspectors for their further consideration, informing their final report. Once the inspectors’ final report is received, the three councils can officially adopt the plan. It is expected that the plan will go before councillors early next year.
Malvern District councillor David Harrison, chair of the SWDPR Joint Advisory Panel, added: “I’m pleased following the further evidence we provided to the inspectors, they have agreed we will have a five-year housing land supply upon adoption of the SWDPR.
“This will considerably strengthen our ability to resist speculative development in inappropriate locations that would harm our communities.
“I would also like to thank and congratulate all the staff for their work on this project over the last five years.”
Details about the main modifications consultation will be released shortly.
Visit www.swdevelopmentplan.org for details and to read the inspectors’ latest letter.
