THE DEPUTY leader of Wychavon District Council has called the Government’s decision to take major planning decisions away from the authority’s control ‘an outrageous decision’ and an ‘affront to democracy’.
A Government sanction means developers submitting an application can choose to bypass the council and instead apply directly to the Planning Inspectorate, which will decide on the council’s behalf – a decision Wychavon has vowed to fight.
This measure has been taken because from 2023 to 2025, 10.7 per cent of major planning applications refused by Wychavon were later allowed on appeal – less than one per cent over the Government’s accepted limit.
The latest data from April 1, 2024 to March 31 2026, however, shows a significant improvement with just 5.2 per cent of applications refused were allowed on appeal, while current performance is well below the 10 per cent designation threshold.
Coun Emma Kearsey, Wychavon’s executive board member for planning, infrastructure and urban design, said: “This is an outrageous decision by a Government that thinks it can simply dictate to local communities in complete defiance of the evidence and common sense.
“We have no problem with accountability. We do have an issue with a decision based on historic data that ignores the reality of the planning service we have today.
“What’s even more appalling is they have decided to do this when we have just adopted the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review, releasing over 25,000 homes for development and bringing forward major projects such as Wychavon Town at pace.
She said the designation undermines the authority’s ambitions for growth and housing delivery and that Drakes Broughton and Badsey have levels of development that have fundamentally changed the character of those villages.
“The reward for councillors who stood up for those communities is apparently to have their decisions taken away from them by those in Westminster and handed to inspectors with no knowledge of Wychavon or the people who live here.
“We will challenge this affront to local democracy and fight to return decisions on major planning applications to democratically elected councillors as soon as possible,” she added.
Wychavon strongly disputes the Government’s decision and is now considering all options available to challenge it, including legal action.
The council acknowledges that while historically there have been some performance issues, the position is now much improved.
The transformation of Wychavon’s planning service was recognised this year by the Royal Town Planning Institute as West Midlands team of the Year and the team shortlisted for a national award.
