A LONG-TERM planning document that sets out the key development goals, policies and site allocations across South Worcestershire has been approved.
The long-awaited South Worcestershire Development Plan Review (SWDPR) was officially adopted by Wychavon, Malvern Hills District and Worcester City councils at meetings last week.
The document is crucial when deciding planning applications, setting out priorities for economic development and growth that will deliver thousands of new homes, key infrastructure projects and opportunities for job creation.
Under the plan, more than 25,000 new homes will need to be built by 2041.
Crucially, the councils can now show they have enough land allocated for housing over the next five years, meaning planners should be in a stronger position to reject speculative and inappropriate housing developments.
Having the SWDPR in place is also vital to delivering Wychavon Town and major housing sites at Rushwick and Mitton, providing certainty to residents and confidence to businesses looking to invest in the area.
The plan links growth to infrastructure and will help create the schools, transport improvements, and healthcare facilities needed to support new housing.
Some 300 hectares of employment land is also allocated, supporting businesses to grow and create jobs. Other key policies include those that will enhance the environment and help tackle climate change.
Councillor David Harrison, chair of the SWDPR Joint Advisory Panel said the result was a significant achievement and a result of the tireless work of officers over many years.
“With the SWDPR now in place, we have a clear framework to guide development across south Worcestershire to 2041.
“It will help ensure new homes are delivered in the right places, supported by the infrastructure communities need, while giving the councils stronger grounds to refuse speculative and inappropriate development not backed by the plan.”
The councils also agreed to start work on a new joint plan to meet the Government’s increased housing targets, which were introduced while the SWDPR was being scrutinised by planning inspectors.
Under the Government’s new rules, councils must formally start the plan-making process by the end of October this year.
Gill Pawson, chair of Vale of Evesham Civic Society welcomed the adoption of the SWDPR.
“For now, this will give the planning department more robust reasons to refuse inappropriate development.
“It should help to take the pressure off our villages, which have had a flurry of planning permissions in recent years, when Wychavon was unable to demonstrate that it had a five year housing supply.
“It will keep the pressure on the council to ensure that timely decisions are made to progress Wychavon Town, as it is this scheme that is being relied upon to meet the adopted housing targets.
“We await with some trepidation the work on the review of the review, as the much higher housing targets imposed by the government will again increase pressure on undeveloped land within the district.
She added that the society would continue to work with the council to try to ensure that Evesham and the villages of the Vale would not be overwhelmed with more large housing estates.
