CONTROVERSIAL plans to build 184 houses in the shadow of the Malvern Hills will be strongly opposed by residents, says a local campaigner.

Developer Land Fund has submitted a planning application to Malvern Hills District Council to build the homes on land between Wood Farm Drive and Hanley Road in Malvern Wells.

The prospect of development has been known for some time, as developers have been in contact with the parish council since November 2011, and held an exhibition for residents last October.

But Peter Walter, of Rothwell Road, who has coordinated residents’' opposition to the proposal since it first came up, said: “For all their consultation, I think they will find residents will be strongly against it.

“For a start, it’s in the Area of Outstanding Nat-ural Beauty (AONB) and it will have a major affect on views from the Three Counties Showground and on the views from the hills themselves."

He said residents had already come out strongly against a smaller application to build houses off nearby Rothwell Road, also in the AONB.

Malvern Wells Parish Council clerk, David Tavener, said: “The par-ish council is likely to make strong objections to any such application.

“The council is also very firmly of the view that the local road and public services infrastructure would be totally insufficient.”

He said it was likely the council would call a public meeting to give residents the chance to voice their views.

Jamie Lewis, of consultants Hunter Page Plan-ning Ltd, on behalf of the developer, said: “We fully understand the sensitive nature of this area.

“Our aspiration is to create a neighbourhood development that will enhance this gateway into Malvern Wells and serve the needs of current and future residents.”