A PLAN to build up to 45 homes in a village has been given the go-ahead by councillors.

Wychavon District Council's planning committee has approved plans by developer Spitfire Homes to build a mix of homes on agricultural land north of Woodhall Lane near to the busy A449 in Ombersley.

The decision came despite significant opposition to the plan with fears raised that allowing the homes to be built would “ruin the village.”

A large number of objectors were concerned by the extra traffic on the village's roads but also criticised the plan for putting forward 45 homes instead of the 25 homes earmarked in the South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP).

"This is a small village which has already had a large new estate of houses built on it, causing noise, mud, rubbish and disruption," one objection said.

"A massive estate of 45 houses will just create further problems, and a village this size will be ruined.

"I can imagine all the tarmac roads and drives will cause surface flooding which farmland and fields drain away."

Ombersley and Doverdale Parish Council had objected to the plans and was concerned by the density of the development brought on by the change in policy in the yet-to-be-adopted review of the SWDP.

A report, which was discussed by the planning committee at the meeting on July 22, said the development was acceptable despite containing more homes than allocated.

Another objector to the plan said: "The extra traffic flow caused by these homes is going to cause such disruption for not just the village but all those living on main road heading onto the A449.

"This will be right near to the Ombersley surgery. We do not need this type of extra traffic pollution and flow."

"The proposed high density is not in keeping with the rest of the village," another objector said.

"As subsequent plans have assumed the original figure there is no justification for the additional houses on this site. The latest proposal therefore is not to the advantage of present or future residents of Ombersley."

The existing Faber Cottage and a number of outbuildings on the land will be demolished to make way for the new homes.