SOUTH Worcestershire has been ranked sixth in a list of areas with the most unsustainable villages.

According to new research into the most rural authorities by the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), south Worcestershire has 97 'unsustainable' villages which means housing allocation, including affordable homes, is either restricted or not permitted.

Unsustainable settlement rank low in settlement hierarchies because they are not judged to have enough services to warrant a housing allocation in local plans.

Gary Williams, head of planning and infrastructure at Wychavon and Malvern Hills district councils said: “South Worcestershire as a whole is currently in the process of reviewing the South Worcestershire Development Plan which will address housing need up to 2041.

"Housing in the rural areas is an important component of the south Worcestershire adopted local plan and as part of the review we are updating many aspects of the plan and its evidence base, including housing needs and the potential of our villages and towns to accommodate further growth.

"We are also working closely with local communities over the production of neighbourhood plans which are another way of bringing forward local housing."

Tim Breitmeyer, CLA president, said: "Sustainable development is not just for towns and cities. Finding and promoting sustainable solutions for rural communities is vital to the long-term vitality of the countryside.

"Updating rural planning policy to include connectivity in sustainability assessments means English villages will not be trapped in analogue when the rest of the world is in the digital age and can access much of the housing they desperately need."