BUILDERS at a major housing development in Worcester have been criticised for draining water across a public footpath.

Redrow and Taylor Wimpey are building hundreds of new houses at Earls Court Farm, west of Bromyard Road.

City councillor Richard Udall was alerted to water from the site being drained across a nearby public footpath.

Photos show a pipe coming from the housing development and standing water on the ground nearby.

Cllr Udall said: "Construction workers building the new housing west of Earls Court were pumping water onto the public footpath.

"I have reported them to the Public Rights of Way Department, they have inspected and have taken immediate action to stop them.

"We will act to protect public footpaths."

In response, a spokesperson for the Earls Court Consortium development, which includes Taylor Wimpey and Redrow, said: "We are aware a groundworks contractor incorrectly positioned a dewatering pump on site. 

"As soon as we were made aware of this, we moved the pump to its correct location away from the public footpath. 

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused by this error and we have reminded all contractors of the correct water management procedures for this site." 

The homes, originally approved by Worcester City Council in 2019, are for more than 900 houses.

The joint housing plan forms part of an enormous scheme to build more than 2,300 homes to the west of Worcester.

Hallam Land Management has permission to build up to 965 homes on the land as well as more than five acres of employment space, a local centre with shops, offices, restaurants, pubs and takeaways, a GP surgery and care home, a primary school and a community hall.

Both Redrow and Taylor Wimpey will be building more than 300 homes each on the site, which spent several years in the planning phase.