Councillors to decide on plan for 145 homes in Astley

Miller Homes’ plan to build a huge new estate on Areley Common is on the agenda at next week’s northern area planning meeting of Malvern Hills District Council.

Outline permission for the homes was granted at appeal last year after initially being rejected by both Malvern Hills and Wyre Forest councils.

Changes to the plans to include a new drainage strategy were then also approved.

FIELDS: Residents have a number of concerns about the plans (Image: NQ)

The latest application gives more detail on the layout and appearance of the scheme.

Of the 145 proposed homes, 58 will be affordable housing - either first homes or social rent.

The 58 would be made up of six one-bedroom maisonettes, 12 one-bed houses, 20 two-bedrooms houses, 18 three-bed houses and two four-bed houses.

More than 100 objections to the development have been made by residents, who say traffic is already bad in the area and are worried about the addition of a further 145 or more vehicles.

READ MORE: Developer wants to change plans for 145 Astley home plan

Neighbours also said local schools, dentists and NHS surgeries are “already stretched to their limits” and have concerns over a lack of public transport.

Astley and Dunley Parish Council has objected to the proposal, citing concerns over the potential for surface flooding on nearby roads.

“This last winter the B4196 was flooded multiple times due to run off from the site and water overflowed the pond reaching to the doors of houses at the bottom of Longmore Hill,” the parish council said in its consultation response.

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But Worcestershire County Council, as the lead local flood authority, has no objection to the plan.

Worcestershire Highways also said it has no objections and that the development would not have an adverse impact on highway safety.

Planning officers have recommended approval, saying: “The development would be a high-quality detailed design that would reflect the semi-rural, peri-urban characteristics of its location and provide a transition between the open countryside to the south and the built development at Stourport.”

District planners will make a decision on the plans on Wednesday (October 9).