THE first 75 homes of a huge development planned for an old Ministry of Defence site in Malvern could go on sale this summer.

The developer has submitted a detailed planning application to build the homes on the former Defence Evaluation Research Agency site, off Leigh Sinton Road, and hopes the first residents will be moving in at the beginning of next year.

The properties are the first phase of a development, called Malvern Vale, of between 390 and 490 new homes - with a minimum of 167 affordable homes aimed at younger people moving into their own homes for the first time - proposed by Persimmon Homes.

Malvern Hills District Council granted outline planning permission for the development in January and has been waiting for detailed plans to be submitted.

The scheme, which is likely to be phased in over the next four years, has been the subject of extensive negotiations between the developer, councillors and council officers.

The council wanted to ensure that 43 per cent of the housing was affordable and also wanted road improvements, a new coach parking area at Dyson Perrins Secondary School opposite the site and other facilities.

The development will include a primary school, sports field and play areas, a community centre and space for shops and light industry. The primary school will be built by the county council, and Persimmon Homes, which will build the community centre, has been negotiating with Elgar Housing over managing the affordable homes.

The development will provide properties ranging from apartments to two, three and four-bedroom homes.

Alison Reading, sales director of Persimmon Homes, said: "We have already received many inquiries from people wishing to move to this beautiful location close to the Malvern Hills and anticipate more interest now our planning application has been submitted."

The initial application includes 28 affordable homes and 47 available to buy on the open market. These will be 23 two-bedroom apartments as well as 14 three-bedroom and 10 four-bedroom houses.