A PARISH councillor has welcomed the decision by inspectors for the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review inquiry to park the plan for a new settlement of 5,000 homes at Throckmorton.
An interim report published June 23 effectively halts a proposal to build houses on the former airfield site for several years, which instead inspectors say should be allocated as a ‘future area of search’.
In the light of the decision, Throckmorton parish councillor Charles Tucker is calling for a change of approach, proposing development around sustainable energy and enhancing biodiversity be considered.
“The inspectors’ decision reflects the sterling work done by the four-parish team [Bishampton & Throckmorton, Wyre Piddle, Lower Moor and Pinvin] in showing up the failings of the Throckmorton proposal.
“It now gives an opportunity to take a fresh look at this whole area and alternatives to mass housing. My feeling is that we ought to be looking at developing an energy and biodiversity park here – based around a solar farm, and supporting industry.”
He also thinks that the site could be suitable for wind turbines.
“The landfill to the south already generates power from gas, and studies show the airfield sits on a reservoir of geothermal energy, so the whole site could make a significant contribution to local energy needs.”
The site is currently an important area for birds and bats so Coun Tucker believes it could also play an important part of the county’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy by restoring biodiversity and creating new wildlife habitat.
“I think this puts off any decisions on housing on the airfield until at least 2030 which is good news for Pershore because it will cut the amount of traffic on Wyre Road and Station Road that a new town would have generated.”
Coun Tucker is urging Wychavon District Council to reconsider and make new plans to use the airfield to provide the energy ‘we will all need’ and to help nature recover.
“Seeing how strong the sun has been, this site could generate enough electricity to power whole communities. Now is the time to take a different tack.”
A spokesman for Wychavon District Council, however, has said: “The inspectors recognised there are a number of challenges involved in delivering the Throckmorton site within the desired timescales.
“This is why they recommended changing its status from an actual housing allocation site in the SWDPR to an area of ‘future search’.
“Crucially, they did not recommend removal of the site from the Plan completely and acknowledge that with more work around deliverability, Throckmorton could help deliver aspirations for a new settlement in the long-term.
“With the Government imposing higher housing targets on the three south Worcestershire councils, Throckmorton remains a key part of how we will deliver that future housing growth.”
