A CONTROVERSIAL housing blueprint for south Worcestershire is a crucial step closer to finally coming into force - despite being subjected to serious criticism.

Fears have been expressed about a "greater Worcester" suffering worsening congestion problems by being swamped with more and more houses.

It comes after Worcester City Council voted to endorse the revised South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP), a blueprint for 28,370 properties across the city, Malvern and Wychavon by 2030.

The dossier, which has taken several years and at least £500,000 to draw up, will now be subjected to one final six-week consultation period before it is referred back to a Government inspector for approval.

But during a crunch vote on Wednesday evening nine councillors refused to vote in favour of the SWDP - and some that did expressed reservations.

The plan is vital in ensuring developers cannot secure permission via expensive appeals to build on sites not identified for housing.

Councillor Roger Berry, a former Mayor of Worcester, said: "You've only got to be heading here for this meeting tonight to see how bad congestion is in the city.

"Imagine what it'll be like in 10 years when we've got a 'greater Worcester' with another 20,000 people here."

The SWDP was also subjected to fierce criticism from Councillor Richard Boorn, who said he intended to "rant" about it.

He said the plan was "sold to us as protection of the city" but cited the row over 200 properties Miller Homes want to build at Middle Battenhall Farm, the recent sale of DEFRA's offices in Whittington Road for at least 120 homes, the impending Waitrose off London Road and the Kilbury Drive development as congestion-worsening projects.

"We've been sold down the river," he said.

"The existing roads have to cope with the traffic from all those houses without any solution on offer.

"The number (of homes) in the plan is now pretty much the same as the old Regional Spatial Strategy, so half a million pounds later we've come up with the same answer. "Money well spent? I think not."

Councillor Marc Bayliss, the deputy leader, said unless the SWDP is adopted Worcester was risking "many more" Middle Battenhall Farm-type scenarios, which has gone to appeal.

Amid claims from some councillors that homes are planned too close to the M5, he said: "I don't agree that it'll make Worcester a dormitory town, there's employment sites in the plan too - Birmingham's view for us to become a bed and breakfast hotel is not one I share."

He called it a "long and tortuous process" to get the SWDP where it is now, calling an adopted plan "vital for democratic control" of the planning system.

The new-look plan has also been endorsed by district councils in Malvern and Wychavon, and is expected to come into force early next year.