THE refusal by councillors on Malvern Hills District Council's northern area development control committee of plans for affordable homes at Upper House, Alfrick, confirmed my faith in their astuteness to see the long-term consequences. If the application had been accepted, it would have been impossible to defend the countryside from development under the 'exception' banner.

CPRE is in no way opposed to affordable houses. However, we believe they should be built on sites which are of little agricultural or landscape value, be specific to the needs of the locality and be designed in such that they are not immediately recognisable as 'affordable'.

FRANK HILL, secretary CPRE, Charles Way, Malvern.