Approval Granted for Nearly 400 Homes Amidst Community Concerns

A proposal for the construction of approximately 400 residences and a sports facility, forming part of an urban expansion in Worcester, has received official approval. Specifically, this housing initiative involves the erection of 372 dwellings on a site adjacent to Martley Road. Accompanying facilities will include a sports pavilion, both natural grass and artificial sports pitches, a pump track designed for cyclist training, and a dedicated play area. Local residents have voiced apprehensions regarding the insufficient provision of general practitioner surgeries and educational institutions within the vicinity. They also express concerns that the increased number of residences will lead to “gridlocked” roads. The scheme put forward by Bloor Homes constitutes phases three and four of a broader development encompassing 1,400 homes, accessible via both Martley Road and Oldbury Road. Initial outline planning permission for the overall project was issued by Malvern Hills District Council in 2020. The most recent proposals, detailing this specific phase of the development, received approval from district planners last month. The planners acknowledged the developer’s initiatives to highlight a crossroads, to ensure distinct characteristics across various sections of the estate, and to establish the site’s main thoroughfare as a “tree-lined avenue.” Bloor states that 93 of the 372 residences will be designated as affordable housing. The residential units will comprise a combination of terraced, semi-detached, and detached houses, alongside apartments. Additionally, a 10-meter tall sports centre will be constructed, featuring a sports hall and changing amenities, in addition to two full-size pitches—one natural grass and one artificial turf. This sports facility will be complemented by a car park offering spaces for 120 vehicles and two minibuses, along with supplementary overflow parking and a designated area for dropping off and picking up users. Local residents had expressed opposition to the proposal, with Andrew Sherwood remarking: “There is no mention of the developer building new schools, doctor’s surgeries, or any expansion of the already overwhelmed Worcestershire Royal Hospital.” He further added, “The increase in congestion on the outlying roads, primarily the roads into the city, which with all these new developments will become gridlocked.” David Heywood stated that the plans “will lead to traffic problems on Martley Road.” The information for this report was compiled by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, an entity responsible for covering local government bodies and other public service organizations. Further updates from BBC Hereford & Worcester are available on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Details regarding our policy on external linking are available for review.