Plans for 257 homes rejected (From Worcester News)

Plans for 257 homes rejected

11:40am Wednesday 8th February 2012 in News

Plans for 257 homes rejected

DEVELOPERS will have to go back to the drawing board after councillors threw out plans for 257 new homes in Worcester.

Members of Wychavon District Council’s planning committee unanimously rejected an application from Bloor Homes to build 257 houses and flats on land behind Kilbury Drive, Staplow Road and Spetchley Road on the edge of the city.

Officers put forward 17 reasons for refusal, including issues with access to and from the site, inadequate separation distances between homes, unsatisfactory private amenity space and drainage issues relating to a watercourse that crosses the site.

More than 40 letters of opposition were also received from concerned householders living on the existing estate, along with objections from West Mer-cia Police, county highways and the Highways Agency.

Whittington Parish Council, Worcestershire County Council and Worcester City Council did not object to the principle of the application. The Environment Agency withdrew its original objection due to the submission of further flood risk information from the applicants.

Councillor Pat Agar, Worcester City councillor for the Nunnery area, spoke on behalf of her constituents at the meeting and raised issues of flooding and drainage, as well as “serious concerns” over access to the development.

Resident Hilary Rawsthorn said the area had reached “saturation point” in housing terms.

Steve MacPherson, of Bloor Homes, said he was disappointed by the recommendation and felt the plans had been “rushed” to committee.

He said: “We don’t think the reasons for refusal are substantial in content.”

Mr MacPherson said he would welcome the committee deferring a decision on the application to allow the developer to work with officers on their concerns.

But Councillor Rob Adams, Wychavon ward member, told the committee the only option was to unanimously refuse the plans.

He said: “There’s nothing right about this application.

“One day, I hope we will be able to recommend this application because I think people realise it will soon come, but it isn’t right in this form today and I will keep coming back and refusing it until it’s right.”

The council chamber erupted into a round of applause from members of the public as Coun Adam’s fellow committee members backed his call to refuse the application.