A NEW development of 10 affordable homes in Bransford, near Malvern, has been given the goahead after councillors were convinced the site posed no risk from chemical contamination.

Festival Housing Association has been seeking permission to build the houses on an old bowling green next to the Bank House, to tackle an established need for more affordable housing in the village.

But the application was previously thrown out in October, with members of Malvern Hills District Council raising concerns that the site may be contaminated with dangerous chemicals.

Fears were over the presence of benzo-alphapyrene, known to be cancer causing, in soil on the land, despite assurances from Worcester Regulatory Services that it was not in the areas of the proposed homes and contamination was “not a significant issue”.

However after further investigation the application returned to MHDC’s northern area development control committee and was approved.

John Sharp, chairman of Leigh and Bransford Parish Council, said he had been frustrated by the delay but was delighted the homes had now been approved.

He said a housing needs survey carried out last year by the parish council and housing enabler Community First had identified an urgent need for 10 affordable homes.

“The initial application for the site went in at the start of April so it has been a long, hard fight but we have got there,”

he said.“We are delighted because there are people in our parish who are desperately in need of this type of housing.”

Worcestershire developer Wolverley Homes will be working with Festival to deliver the new homes, eight with two bedrooms and two with three bedrooms.

Coun Sharp said he was hopeful work could get underway before Christmas.