NEW homes may soon be built as Malvern Town Council looks to sell off some of its land. 

Councillors have agreed to give officers the green light to seek planning permission for housing on land owned by the authority at Elgar Avenue. 

And they were keen to ensure that, if homes were built on the land, steps would be taken to address the 'urgent need' for affordable housing. 

It is thought around 15 new homes could be built on the land, which is recommended to be put forward for possible allocation in the South Worcestershire Development Plan, the areas long-term planning blueprint. 

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It was previously allocated as allotment land, while the town council has also allowed community gardens to be held there in the past. 

The council would be in charge of what types of housing could be built on the land. 

At at full council meeting on Wednesday (October 9) councillors gave officers the green light to spend up to £6,000 to look into a planning application for the site. 

The town clerk will then return to the council with recommendations of what she believes will get through planning. 

The Mayor of Malvern, Cllr Marilyn Birks, said: "I would be very keen to see social housing on the site.

"As a Pickersleigh councillor, I know there are many families needing accommodation in that area of the town. 

"This is a fantastic opportunity to have a say in what goes on in our community and to make a difference."

Cllr Julie MacLusky added she would also support affordable housing on the site as she felt the need for it was massive at the moment. 

The council began looking into selling the land in June 2016 and the statutory allotment allocation was removed. 

The council then applied for planning permission but it was deemed outside the development boundary. 

In November 2019 the council suggested the land could be put forward as a site in the SWDP, and there is now a recommendation the site should be carried forward for potential allocation. 

However, the SWDP has been delayed for several factors. 

Any money raised from selling the land would need to be ring-fenced in the council’s accounts to be used as funding for a future capital project.