THE developer aiming to build 700 new homes on the edge of Malvern has hit out at councillors for derailing the scheme at the last minute.

Plans for housing growth over the next 20 years have been sent back to the drawing board after Malvern Hills District councillors voted not to support the South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP). They have demanded investigation of an alternate strate g y that would limit development at Newland to just 250 homes, with the remainder dispersed around Malvern.

But Scott Chamberlain, managing director of Gleeson Strategic Land, believes that was the wrong decision and that Malvern could lose out as a consequence.

He said that since 2008 extensive research had been carried out to identify the most sustainable sites for development. “The site (Newland) is now of a scale which will not only deliver new-family, first-time buyer and homes for the elderly, but will also deliver a new cemetery, sports facilities, playing fields, a police post, community hall, health centre, school, highway improvements and an extensive country park,” he said.

“It also includes high quality employment space which can create hundreds of new jobs and we already have interest from a number of employers keen to stay and grow in Malvern.”

He warned that those facilities would not be delivered if housing numbers at the site were reduced.

“Malvern will still have to provide the same number of houses and potentially more if the SWDP is delayed,” he said. “This will create exactly the same transport issues but, if they are dispersed, affecting far more people as there will not be one site large enough to deliver the road improvements and provide community facilities.”

Gleeson executives were in Malvern this week carrying out previously arranged public consultations on the Newland plans. The firm has yet to decide how it will proceed with the site but remains in contact with Malvern Hills DIstrict Council (MHDC).

David Hughes, MHDC leader, said: “Gleeson has not said anything yet in terms of its intentions but, as I outlined at our council meeting, the work that has gone on to date indicates that land can be delivered and is sustainable.

“They continue to work with us and have been very reasonable so far under the circumstances.”