REJECTED plans to build two bungalows in Hanley Swan have gone to appeal.

A developer had wanted to build the properties behind houses in St Gabriel’s Terrace in the village.

But permission was refused by Malvern Hills District Council back in May.

Planners said the development would reduce the quality of private amenity space for numbers 1 and 2 St Gabriel’s Terrace.

They felt it would result in a cramped layout with little space at either side boundary for any landscaping.

“The design lacks the quality and details that is expected,” officers said in their decision notice.

Developer Paul Brooks has now appealed the council’s decision, so the final say will come down to a planning inspector.

It is argued by the developer that planning permission already exists for a single bungalow to be built behind 1 St Gabriel’s Terrace, and that the two proposed bungalows would still be “well served in terms of amenity space”.

Mr Brooks says “the amenity space is similar in area to surrounding developments and in particular to the adjoining development known as Hillview”.

“In conclusion, given that there is approval for a single dwelling to land to the rear of 1 St Gabriel’s Terrace the principle for development has already been established.

“Now that the site area in question has almost doubled with the addition of further land to the rear of 2 St Gabriel’s Terrace we do not see any valid reason why if that site can accommodate the development, that planning should not be granted for two dwellings.”

Mr Brooks also questions the district council’s lack of housing supply.

In his appeal statement, he said: “In a recent planning appeal, the inspector concluded that Malvern Hills District Council could demonstrate only around a 3.7 year supply of housing land supply.

More recently the December 2023 monitoring report suggested that MHDC can now only demonstrate a 3.31 year housing land supply.

“This is a significant shortfall and therefore the tilted balance in favour of sustainable development is also a significant material consideration and unless there are demonstrable reasons to refuse the application there should be a presumption in favour of the development.”