MORE THAN 60 homes could still be built next to a floodplain after a government inspector ruled against the council.

A plan by social housing provider Stonewater to build 62 homes on Old Northwick Farm in Worcester was rejected by Worcester City Council’s planning committee last year over fears the land could flood and over a lack of public transport but a government planning inspector has now said the work can go ahead.

Despite saying the homes could now be built, the inspector refused Stonewater’s call for the council to pay some of the cost of the appeal after the council decided not to defend its decision to reject the plan over the lack of public transport.

The report by planning inspector M Aqbal said the land, next to the River Severn, said the area was the “lowest level” for flood risk and evidence of historic flooding was “limited.”

The report said: "Given the circumstances, allowing the appeal and granting planning permission for the proposed scheme, does not significantly increase flood risk, over and above that associated with developing the site under the extant planning permission.

"Consequently, the site is suitable for housing with regard to flood risk."

Councillors rejected the plan last year despite the council’s own planning department recommending it should be approved.

The planning committee was warned the refusal could be overturned on appeal as the site has already been included for residential development in the South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP) and had seen a plan for 52 homes approved in 2015.

A previous plan by Bloor Homes to build 52 homes on the same site was backed by the council in 2015 but work never started.

Council officers said refusing the plan, despite the recommendation for approval, could “sterilise” allocated development sites and undermine the SWDP but it was still refused.

They also said there was limited evidence the site would flood.