A PLAN to build 40 new homes in Fernhill Heath was approved.

Piper Homes will move forward with its plan to build a mix of one-to-five-bed homes on land between Sling Lane and the Old Drive off Droitwich Road on the eastern edge of Fernhill Heath.

The proposal was backed in principle by Wychavon District District's planning committee in January.

The development would include seven four-bed, 17 three-bed, 11 two-bed and five one-bed homes.

In line with the district council’s policy, around 40 per cent would be offered as affordable housing.

One two-bed and one one-bed bungalows would be included in the affordable home proportion of the development.

Half of the affordable housing would be built on the western border of the development next to the existing housing.

The remaining affordable homes would be built to the north east of the site.

Around one hectare of green space would be included in a triangle shape to the south of the homes away from Droitwich Road as well as short ‘buffer’ space between the homes and the A38.

The two hectare site is bordered by the A38 to the north and the grade II-listed Fernhill House and Hindlip House are nearby.

Homes have already been built to the west and a number of fields border the site to the south.

The site for the proposed development was specifically allocated for housing in the North Claines Development Plan.

Each one-bed home would come with a single parking space, two spaces for each two and three-bed home and three spaces for each four and five-bed home.

The plan was approved unanimously by Wychavon District Council's planning committee at a meeting on October 17.

l A CONTROVERSIAL plan to build 160 new homes in Fernhill Heath, which faced huge opposition from residents, was withdrawn last week.

Lovell Partnerships and Walsall Housing Group wanted to build 160 new homes on land off Station Road received more than 100 objections.