A PLAN to build more homes in a village should be approved by councillors next week, a new report has said.

A total of 14 homes would be built on land to the north of Cornfield Close in Welland near Malvern, under plans by DB Land and Planning Consultancy, with Malvern Hills District Council (MHDC) planning officers recommended it should approved when the council's planning committee meets next Wednesday (June 24).

Several residents had spoken out against a plan to build more homes saying Welland would not be able to cope.

In objections submitted to the council, neighbours in Cornfield Close said the road was already narrow and struggled to cope with traffic and more homes would only make matters worse.

A total of seven comments were submitted supporting the plan saying the homes were well-designed and affordable housing was much-needed in the area.

The homes would sit outside the development boundary in the South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP) and within the Malvern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

The council planning report said officers had weighed up its design and layout against the possibility of the homes harming views from the Malvern Hills AONB.

The report said: "Whilst great weight is attributed to these matters, the site is well visually contained by existing vegetation and the natural landform of the immediate environs.

"An appropriate level of new planting would be provided to the eastern site boundary.

"Drawing all of this together, the proposal accords with the development plan when read as a whole.

"The scheme is, on balance, sufficiently well designed to integrate successfully into its built and natural context.

"Whilst all other matters raised in representations have been carefully considered, none outweigh the overall assessment made or justify withholding planning permission."

The rejected plan for 24 homes - eventually overturned on appeal - was also outside the development boundary which has been used as justification by the developer for the latest plan which includes a mix of two-to-four bed homes and two bungalows.

Welland Parish Council raised no objection to the plan.

Malvern Hills District Council's planning committee meets virtually from 2pm on Wednesday (June 24).

The meeting will be livestreamed via the council's website.