'Harmful' 56-home plan for Welland, near Malvern, refused

Brandon Planning and Development and Caddick Residential wanted to build dozens of houses in a field on the edge of Welland near Castlemorton Common.

But the plans were heavily criticised by residents, who objected to its potential impact on the natural environment and difficulty of access.

And now, almost two years on from the application being submitted, Malvern Hills District Council has refused it planning permission.

The proposed development has been refused permission (Image: Brandon Planning and Development and Caddick Residential)

Planning officers said the application site is not earmarked for housing in the South Worcestershire Development Plan or the Welland Neighbourhood Plan, both of which guide planning policy in the area.

Setting out the reasons for refusal, they said the development would be a “harmful urban intrusion into the rural open countryside” and would “harmfully erode” the character of the Malvern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Planners were concerned about access to the site and said “substantial harm” would have been caused to both the Castlemorton Common and Malvern Hills sites of special scientific interest.

The impact of the proposed development on great crested newts was of particular concern.

According to the refusal notice, the application did not include the right mix of housing to meet planning policy and no section 106 agreement was in place to ensure the provision of education, open space and highways contributions.

Castlemorton Parish Council had said the development would have been too big for the location.

Malvern Hills Trust objected to the plans, citing concerns over the visual impact of the proposed homes, access to the site and the increased recreational use of the surrounding area, which would impact on sensitive wildlife habitats. 

In documents submitted as part of the application, the developer had said: “The benefits of the scheme clearly outweigh any limited harm from the initial construction of the site and the localised impact upon the landscape.”