West Malvern residents crowded into Priory Lodge Hall on Wednesday evening to hear district councillors decide the fate of the Runnings Park plan.

Despite strong local opposition, the scheme to convert the former hotel off Crofts Bank into 15 houses was approved by Malvern Hills District Council's southern area planning committee.

An earlier plan by Coxley Developments Ltd, to create 18 houses at the site, was rejected by the same committee in August last year.

But complications arose because the committee said local members and the chief planning officer could grant delegated approval for up to 15 houses.

This was done, but the decision had to be overturned because the minutes of August's meeting were found to be worded wrongly.

As a result, the 15-home application came before the committee this week.

Philip Drake, one of the opposing residents, said the council had rejected the earlier plan because it was unsustainable and over-intense, and because of its impact on the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

"These are sound reasons for rejecting 18 units. We maintain they still apply to 15 units," he said.

However, planning officers recommended approval and the committee voted 10-0 with two abstentions to give the go-ahead.