Residents are to fight plans for 184 homes (From Ledbury Reporter)

Residents are to fight plans for 184 homes

10:00pm Tuesday 19th March 2013 in Ledbury By Robert Hale

OBJECTS: Malvern Wells resident Peter Walter.

CONTROVERSIAL plans to build 184 houses in the shadow of the Malvern Hills will be strongly opposed by residents, says a local campaigner.

Developer Land Fund has just put in a planning application to Malvern Hills District Council to build the homes on land between Wood Farm Drive and Hanley Road in Malvern Wells.

The prospect of development has been known for some time, as developers have been in contact with the parish council since November 2011, and held an exhibition for residents last October.

But Peter Walter of Rothwell Road, who has coordinated residents' opposition to the proposal since it first came up, said: “For all their consultation, I think they will find residents will be strongly against it. For a start, it's in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and it will have a major effect on views from the Three Counties Showground up to the hills and on the views from the hills themselves."

He said residents have already come out strongly against a much smaller planning application for to build houses off nearby Rothwell Road, also in the AONB.

Malvern Wells Parish Council clerk David Tavener said: “The parish council is likely to make very strong objections to any such application.

The scale of such a development would be extremely detrimental to the AONB and would completely alter the character of the conservation area.

"The council is also very firmly of the view that the local road and public services infrastructure would be totally insufficient."

He said it was likely the council will call a public meeting to give residents the chance to voice their views.

Jamie Lewis of consultants Hunter Page Planning Ltd, on behalf of the developer, said: “We fully understand the sensitive nature of this area.

“Our aspiration is to create a neighbourhood development that will enhance this gateway into Malvern Wells and serve the needs of current and future residents.”