The scheme will include a range of needed homes, including affordable homes, public open space, play area, landscaping, ecological enhancements, drainage and associated works.

We are undertaking a consultation on the emerging draft proposals so that the local community has an opportunity to engage in the process prior to a formal planning application being submitted.

All comments received will be used to inform and refine the planning application before it is formally submitted to the Malvern Hills District Council Planning Service.

• Vehicular access to be taken off the existing roundabout on Martley Road which also serves as an access to the new homes being constructed opposite the site to the south.
• Development of up to 65 dwellings comprising a variety of house types to reflect local needs.
• 40% of the new homes will be provided as specifically affordable housing.
• All dwellings would additionally be spacious, designed to meet national space standards for new housing.
• Building heights will be limited to two storeys with some limited number of houses potentially at 2.5 storeys.

• At least 40% of the Site would be set out as green space comprising land for ecological enhancement, green routes, landscaping and public open space.
• Existing boundary hedgerows will be maintained other than when needed to be removed for the access and enhanced with new landscaping.

An outline application (all matters reserved except access) is to be submitted for a residential development (including affordable homes) to deliver up to 65 dwellings. As an outline planning application, the detailed designs of the new homes and their layout will be for later consideration, but the planning application includes plans which show the location of the new homes, and the scheme would also include new areas of public open space, play area, landscaping, ecological enhancements, drainage and associated works.

A detailed design for the access to the site from the Martley Road roundabout will be included in the application.

The consultation here provides an opportunity for the local community to engage in the planning process and proposals for the site, prior to a formal planning application being submitted to Malvern Hills District Council.

Within the adopted plan for the area, the site is not allocated for development and is part of the open countryside.

However, in circumstances where the applicant has calculated that the Council is unable to demonstrate a deliverable five-year housing land supply, and there are significant housing needs that the current development plan for South Worcestershire is not planning for. Government policy states that proposals like this should still be approved unless the benefits of doing so would be substantially outweighed by the harms.

In this context and having regard to the national housing crisis and the need to deliver both market and affordable homes in the District, development proposals of this nature are part of the answer to deliver more homes that people need.

The proposals will be supported by a comprehensive suite of technical assessments and plans, which demonstrate that the site is suitable for the proposed residential development and that all relevant planning policy considerations have been fully addressed.