MORE than 1,700 car trips will be added to west Worcester’s roads every day if a new 800-home ‘super village’ gets the go ahead, it has emerged.
A report prepared on behalf of the land owners has laid bare the scale of the extra congestion on the roads network around the A44 Bromyard Road.
As your Worcester News revealed yesterday, a planning application has been submitted to transform 60 hectares of farm land in Lower Broadheath.
The report on congestion, prepared on behalf of Hallam Land Management, says 1,776 extra vehicles will leave or access the new village and nearby roads daily.
It also claims the extra vehicles will result in “no capacity issues”, suggesting traffic delays are normal and accepted in locations close to a city.
The data will form a key part of any decision planning officers make over whether the development should go ahead or not.
It comes as Councillor Paul Swinburn, the deputy leader of Malvern Hills District Council, admits he would rather see “no development at all” in Lower Broadheath.
Coun Swinburn also said he was concerned the land could see more development in future years.
Under the South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP), a housing blueprint which lasts to 2030, the site is earmarked for 975 properties.
A section of the site is still owned by Bloor Homes, which has yet to submit a fresh planning application since withdrawing one in 2010 for 3,950 properties.
Coun Swinburn said: “I was part of the ‘Save Elgar’s Village’ campaign, which managed to stop that old development going ahead.
“There is no question, I would rather Lower Broadheath take no new development at all, but we know it’s not realistic in the current climate.
“The good thing is that Hallam Land Management has been in contact with us and kept us informed of their proposals.
“Their approach has been fine.
"Under the SWDP the land is earmarked for 975 homes, so that means we could see a separate application for another 175.
“If we have to take more than that, clearly it’s unacceptable.
"If any other developers are looking at the site they need to talk to us.”
Hallam Land Management wants to get permission for its 800-home complex, and then sell the land to either one or multiple developers.
An outline planning application, for farmland off Oldbury Road, includes a school, shops, restaurants, an employment zone for businesses, green space, changing rooms, a pavilion, sports pitches and a health centre.
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