2:00am Tuesday 9th February 2010
By Richard Vernalls
PLANS to build 24 new homes in rural Worcestershire have been put off after an administration error.
Councillors on Wychavon District Council’s development control committee were due to hear detailed proposals for the plot in Tewkesbury Road, in Eckington, near Pershore.
But letters notifying local objectors were not sent out telling people when the plan was going to committee.
Jonathan Edwards, development control manager, said: “We have an apology to make.
“There’s no legal requirement for us to send the letters but unfortunately with this application that letter did not get sent out.
“We would suggest no decision be taken on this application, with that in mind.”
He said the 13-week deadline for a committee decision was late March, meaning councillors could still make up their minds at the next meeting in good time.
Mr Edwards added the extra time would allow planning officers and builder CALA Homes (Midlands) Ltd to hammer out a section 106 agreement, which sets out the financial windfall for council taxpayers from developers.
Councillor Judy Pearce said it wasn’t the first time letters had not been sent out to interested parties and asked to discuss the issue with planning officers following the meeting.
She said: “Is there a general problem or is it just with this application?”
“We can discuss that with officers after the meeting,” responded coun Jean Dowty, committee chairman.
The development, with the railway line bordering the rear of the site, would see a mix of semi-detached, terraced and detached homes, with seven affordable homes.
There were 31 objections from villagers and Eckington Parish Council are also against the development for several reasons, including the fact the development had expanded from 20 homes to 24 since outline permission was granted last year.
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