Housing development rejected in Tenbury following major opposition by residents (From Ludlow Advertiser)

Housing development rejected in Tenbury following major opposition by residents

4:45pm Friday 8th March 2013 in News By Adrian Kibbler

PROTESTERS in Tenbury have fought off a bid to build nearly 50 new homes in the town.

St Michael’s Hall was packed and cars parked for hundreds of yards down  country lanes as Malvern Hills planners turned down a scheme for 45 houses on land opposite Tenbury High School.

Members of the Northern Area Development Committee rejected the recommendation of their officers in throwing out the application by the developers Marston Developments Limited.

Tony Penn, who represents Tenbury on Malvern Hills District Council where he holds the planning portfolio, spoke against the proposal but warned that it could result in an appeal.

However, he said this was worth the risk as an approval would blow a hole in the South Worcester Development plan that allocates 30 homes for the site.

“It’s ridiculously cramped with affordable homes shoved into corners of the site creating little ghettos with double banked parking and no parking for visitors,” said Coun Penn.

“I fully appreciate that in turning down this application the developer may go to appeal. However, I do not believe that we should be pushed into granting planning permission for a development that does not meet the needs of the locality and which exceeds the number suggested by the South Worcester Development Plan.”

He raised concerns about flooding and pointed to the major flood in 2007 which is claimed was made worse by rain water running off the site of the proposed development.

Tony Penn argued that if 45 homes were built on a site designated as suitable for 30 and this was applied across the whole of South Worcestershire it would mean an additional 16,700 homes.

But Gareth Jones speaking for the developer argued that the site that had at one time been subject to an application for 94 homes had been subject to public consultation.

“This site is more favourable and suitable than many others,” said Gareth Jones.

He claimed that the development would meet an important need for more homes including providing 18 affordable homes in the area.

Tenbury Town Council has objected to the development and town Councillor Eric Hudson said that many local businesses in the town centre had been inundated by the flash flood in 2007 with a large amount of water coming from the site.

Phil Grove who also sits for Tenbury on Malvern Hills District Council said the proposed scheme involved too many houses and would look out of place.

Planning officers from Malvern Hills District Council has recommended approval saying that the area was suitable for the number of houses and that there were engineering solutions to deal with concerns about flooding.