BACKERS of a major development in Malvern Link are preparing to unveil detailed options for the future of the former allotment site in Lower Howsell.

More than 100 residents in Lower Howsell Road, Vandra Close and Summerfield Road have already lodged objections with the planning department of Malvern Hills District Council.

The objections followed the submission of an application for outline planning permission by Cheltenham-based Bovis Homes in June last year. The Council has still yet to make a decision on planning permission.

The outline application is to establish the principle of "residential development, public open space, access, landscaping and infrastucture works" for the site, which is around 12 acres, and offers no details.

But the developer, through its Bristol-based agent Mason Richards Planning, is now looking to put detailed options for different schemes before residents.

It has approached Malvern Town Council for help in a public consultation exercise, which could even run to a local exhibition. The council was due to consider the request at a meeting last night (Thursday).

"We would like to get things moving now, we would like to come to some sort of determination," said a spokesman for Mason Richards, "We thought perhaps an approach to the Town Council to explain our proposals to them would be a good step forward."

The Town Council has already lodged a formal objection to the outline planning application, saying it is "not in the public interest to permit residential development of the site" on the basis it has been designated as public open space.

An objection has also been lodged by the highways department of Worcestershire County Council citing concerns over the effect of extra traffic on the Worcester Road/Lower Howsell Road junction. The department has also told MHDC that Lower Howsell Road is "unsuitable in its present form to serve the proposed development".

The site, part of the Madresfield Estate, has already had a chequered planning history, including a planning inquiry which resulted in a Government inspector suggesting the Council buy the land as public open space.

That fell through in 1998, when the Council had the land valued and decided it could not afford it.

David Murray, head of planning at Malvern Hills District Council, said the application will not be going before the planning committee in November.

"One of the problems has been having the staff to do the open spaces study which is nearly complete now," he said.

"If possible it will go before the December meeting but I can't say for certain."