Welbeck Strategic Land has secured a resolution to grant outline planning consent for a new urban extension in South Worcester having been advised by Savills Midlands planning team and Osborne Clarke LLP.
The urban extension, which will be located between the St Peter’s area of Worcester and Kempsey and near the villages of Norton and Whittington, will include 2,204 new homes alongside a neighbourhood centre with a primary school, shops, a health centre, care home, community facilities and space for a range of new businesses.
The proposal includes a link to the area’s agricultural past which will be maintained by focusing the local centre around the historic farm buildings of Middle Broomhall Farm and re-introducing orchards along with allotments, community gardens and areas for gathering wild food. A green infrastructure framework will connect the residential neighbourhoods to the countryside and include space for woodland and wetland habitats, recreation, sports and food production.
Employment space will accommodate businesses of varying sizes and there will also be facilities available to support those who work from home.
Due to the location and size of the scheme which spanned three districts, Welbeck and its professional team have worked to secure planning consent from three councils, including Wychavon District Council and Worcester City Council before concluding with the final planning committee at Malvern Hills District Council on (7 March).
A sustainable transport strategy will underpin the design of the suburb, incorporating routes for walking and cycling as well as a bus route servicing the centre of Worcester and other key local routes.
Alistair Watson, managing director of Welbeck Strategic Land, comments: “This was a challenging project which involved multiple landowners, three district councils and numerous stakeholders. We are delighted that, after five years of planning negotiations and community engagement members have resolved to grant consent. Our strategic land promotion business goes from strength to strength and we have recently secured another £20 million of institutional funding to promote land for housing in the south of England. Our existing portfolio comprises circa 20,000 plots in over 50 locations’.
Michael Davies, planning director at Savills Birmingham, adds: “We are happy with the outcome at the final committee; a result of determination and close working with planning officers which will allow this scheme to come to fruition. We believe that the scheme – a green suburb which will combine the best of town and country – will provide a welcome range of dwelling types for existing and future residents.”
“The urban extension will bring with it a substantial contribution to the much needed housing provision in South Worcestershire as well as significant economic benefits in terms of investment in a range of community facilities and major new infrastructure. In addition to significant investment in a new southern link road, the area will also benefit from the new Worcestershire Parkway station which is due to open in spring 2019 providing direct links to Birmingham and London.”
