THE leader of Worcester City Council says the city cannot take many more homes without better schools, hospitals and roads.

Councillor Simon Geraghty said big investment was needed before plans to build up to 16,800 homes are approved.

He is worried too many politicians in the county are focusing on public transport improvements in Worcester without thinking about the "full package" for the city.

Coun Geraghty, Conservative, said: "When it comes to housing growth in Worcester, I see sustainable transport as only part of the picture.

"We've got to make it clear that if we don't get the full package of improvements, the option put forward for housing growth will have to be re-thought. We need adequate infrastructure of all types - that's the message that has to be going back to Government.

"I see sustainable travel as part of the package, but we also need funding for our roads, schools and hospitals."

John Hobbs, director of environmental services at County Hall, said: "It's a good point - we should be imaginative enough to put the brakes on development if sustainability cannot be delivered."

Worcester MP Mike Foster, a Labour Government whip, said he sympathised with Coun Geraghty's stance.

He said: "I think there is a general acceptance we need better infrastructure and that this needs public investment, from our sewerage system to our schools.

"It's early days yet though and until we know where these homes will go we can't say what infrastructure will be needed where."

As we reported previously, the Government-led West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy set out three options for house-building in Worcester by 2026. The option for 11,800 new homes has been adopted as the preferred one by the Guildhall, although only if there is better infrastructure.

The plans for house building for the whole county by 2026 will see up to 62,300 new homes built, although the exact number will not be known until 2010.

A public consultation has been launched by the south Worcestershire joint core strategy group, which still has two weeks to run.

People can respond to it by logging on the web at www.swjcs.org, with the closing date for comments set for Sunday July 1. The comments will help local council leaders gauge public opinion so far before a further consultation period starts in November.