A VILLAGE near Worcester is one step closer to gaining a sports and community centre.

Trevor Geens, chairman of Kempsey Parish Council and long term resident of the village, said: “It will be a great asset to the village, as a result of the population expansion.

“This agreement represents the best opportunity in a generation to secure good sporting and social facilities for the whole community, young and old, both established and new residents.

“The Parish Council and others have worked hard to get to this point and we are eager to access the land and to start building the new centre.”

The signed agreement will pave the way for Kempsey Parish Council to buy 15 acres of land situated at Pixham Ferry Lane, from developers Taylor Wimpey for just £1.

The centre will comprise football and cricket pitches, a trim trail ,car park and a custom designed multi-function community centre with changing rooms.

After six years of work by the Parish Council, the Parish’s Neighbourhood Plan was overwhelmingly approved at a referendum in October 2017.

Funding will come from a section 106, which is a legal agreement, used to reduce the impact of a development on the local community.

Malvern Hills District Council is also a signatory to the agreement which sets out the conditions that will apply to the construction of 99 new houses in Kempsey village.

Planning approval for the project was granted by the District Council in July 2018 and negotiations between the various parties followed through to May 2019.

The agreement was signed on May 7, with Kempsey Parish clerk, Sharon Baxter, attaching the seal of the Parish Council to the agreement, witnessed by Chairman Trevor Geens and Councillor Chris Waller.

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