PLANS for a new ‘super village’ of over 2,000 homes have been given the go-ahead.

Developer Welbeck Strategic Land wants to build the homes on open land between the St Peter’s area of Worcester and the village of Kempsey, near Norton and Whittington.

The proposal, described a part of the Worcester Urban Extension, also includes a hotel, shops, a primary school, a health surgery, businesses, a sports centre, parks and allotments.

The site is mostly within the Malvern Hills district, but also includes parts of Worcester City and Wychavon, and is allocated for development in the South Worcestershire Development Plan.

The planning application was originally submitted in 2013 and has been the subject of intensive negotiations between the planning authority, consultees and the applicant.

Members of Worcester City and Wychavon earlier agreed to delegate the decision to Malvern Hills District Council, whose northern area planning committee met on Wednesday.

At the meeting, members voted 12-0 with three abstentions to approve outline permission for the development.

Before the decision was made, members heard representatives of local parish councils voice their misgivings about the plan, which largely centred on traffic issues, especially access on to the A38 and to the Southern Link Road.

Michael Davis, agent for the developers, described the project as a “new green suburb, with 40 per cent green space, combining the best of town and country.”

He said: “Welbeck is not going to get permission and then sell the project on; it has a vested interest in the next 10 to 15 years.”

Cllr David Harrison, member for the Kempsey ward, proposed the plan’s approval, although he said that the allocation of 20 per cent affordable homes was “not great but acceptable.” He also fears that Taylors Lane, already a rat run, will get worse.

His proposal was seconded by fellow Kempsey councillor John Michael, who said that although he generally approved the plan, a serious review of the traffic proposals was needed.

Other applications approved in the same area include one for up to 255 dwellings and employment use on land off Taylors Lane, for 81 homes on the Ketch car boot sale site, and for 66 homes and a 32-bed care home on land west of the A38.