PARKLAND designed to complement a controversial planning proposal to build 250 homes in Droitwich will honour the town's iconic Water Tower.

The Environment Partnership (TEP) has published its plans for a 'Water Tower Park' to accompany Redrow Homes' proposed Pulley Lane housing development, should it get the green light from Wychavon District Council later this year.

Droitwich Town Councillor Richard Morris, who is also the district council's cabinet member responsible for housing, said: "It's important because we don't have a lot of play areas in the south of Droitwich, but there is also the condition that it needs to be managed and maintained.

"I'm sure local people would want to see a green space and areas that they can enjoy for recreation. In any area it helps the vista, scenery and gives the opportunity to walk, which supports a healthy and happy life style."

The proposals comprise around 7.5 hectares of green space, offering a range of facilities including sports, playground facilities including a zipwire and a large fruit orchard with natural meadows.

Drawing inspiration from the existing landscape, the proposal would create three distinctive areas: Water Tower Park, Newland Road adventure play and Pulley Meadows nature reserve.

Water Tower Park would feature a series of grass mounds extending from the reservoir reflecting the form of the 95-metre high structure which was built in 1962. A range of play equipment would sit between the mounds including a multi-use games area, aerial slide and climbing nets.

Coun Morris added: "This was a site we heavily opposed development on, we lost it at appeal and one of the arguments not to have development was that it was a scenic area, people like to look at hills, they don't want to look at houses."

However Wychavon District Council's development manager, Neil Pearce has praised Redrow and TEP's plans for the outdoor space.

He said: "I have to say that one good thing about the Redrow scheme is the attention to the outdoor spaces. They are providing allotments, they are providing an adventure playground with zipwires, they are providing sports pitches."

Droitwich's mayor, Councillor Graham Beale said: "We have got some nice park areas which we hope will always remain. I think as long as we can keep these areas then that is going to be rather an asset, rather than just houses, houses, and houses."

He continued to say it would be "great" if the proposal could include activity areas for children to play in.

In July last year Redrow Homes' application received outline planning permission after former Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles overturned Wychavon District Council's decision to refuse the scheme.

It is thought the proposed plan will go before the district council's planning committee towards the end of 2015, or January 2016.

A spokesperson for Redrow said: “If approved the new development would offer a mix of two to five-bedroom homes to cater for a variety of buyers’ needs.”

Developer Persimmon Homes has also put forward a proposal to build hundreds of new homes as part of the Yew Tree Hill development.

It is thought a detailed planning application for the Persimmon scheme will go before the planning committee next month.

To comment or view either application visit wychavon.gov.uk and search for planning applications 15/01418/rem for the Redrow development and W/15/01187/RM for Persimmon Homes.