A DEVELOPMENT opposed by Kempsey Parish Council could receive planning permission next week on the recommendation of planning officers.

Westbury Homes (Holdings) Ltd want to build four more houses on land adjoining the Old Vicarage between the A38 and Old Road South.

Permission has already been granted for 11 houses at the Old Vicarage and parish councillors said the new estate, with a total of 50 bedrooms, would put further strain on village resources.

They pointed out that Kempsey Primary School was full, the doctors' surgery was not accepting new patients and the scheme did not include a children's playground.

It did not answer Kempsey's need for affordable, low-cost housing, they said.

However, Malvern Hills Council planning officers say the plan has been amended to remove a five-bedroom house and provide an acceptable mix of one four-bedroom and three three-bedroom houses.

They will be recommending approval of the plan at Wednesday's meeting of the council's northern area planning committee.

A decision was deferred last month for a site visit.