A MARINA revamp project has been rejected by councillors who were concerned it might end up just as a property development.

Tingdene Marinas applied to build a boat yard, bar, restaurant, community hub, replacement chandlery and extra parking at Upton Marina.

But some district councillors feared the 45 dwellings included in the application could be built and the marina facilities never completed.

Malvern Hills District Council’s southern area planning committee refused permission for the project in part because the council had not received construction phasing arrangements, which sets out when the work will be done.

Cllr Mike Morgan, a district councillor for Upton, said: “There would be nothing to prevent the applicant selling the land off to a third party and just developing housing. I’m not sure that’s a risk we as a council should be taking, I support the refusal.”

Cllr Andrea Morgan, who also represents Upton, seconded Cllr Morgan’s proposal to reject the application.

She said: “We did this to safeguard Upton, to get people coming to a thriving marina and chandlery.

“If we allow this to go through as it is we have no control over anything.”

District councillor Jeremy Owenson said the application was focused on houses and marina upgrades were ‘almost an afterthought’.

“Every available space of the marina seems to be for housing,” he said. “Our phasing was to try to fund development of Upton’s marina.”

Cllr Mick Davies said he voted in favour of the application last year on the condition that the project was completed in phases.

If the economic aspects are not guaranteed to be delivered, I’m not in support,” he added.

Duncan Rudge, Malvern Hills District Council planning services manager, said planners recommended refusal for a variety of reasons, including the applicant not agreeing to phasing arrangements.

But Cllr Kwai Chan supported the application.

Garry Duthie, on behalf of the planning agents for Tingdene Marinas, said they had worked with the council to meet their resolutions.