THE third phase of a huge housing development which will see up to 300 homes built on the edge of the city has been approved.

Wychavon District Council's planning committee backed plans by major housing developer Persimmon to build 96 homes on land off Swinesherd Lane in Spetchley near Worcester at a meeting on Thursday (April 1)

The developer was given permission to build up to 300 homes on the land in 2016.

Cllr Rob Adams, who represents Norton and Whittington on the district council, said: "This application has been on the books for quite a few years now.

"I did not support [the overall plan in 2016] in no uncertain terms at the time. I thought this was a very difficult area which was deemed to be green space all the way from Whittington right through to the hospital.

"However, I have very much moved on from those days, it's in the plan for 300 houses and this is going to bring it up to the 300 at this moment in time."

Cllr Adams raised some concerns about 300 homes being accessed by a single entrance but did not want that to stop the plan being approved.

A report by the council’s planning officers had recommended the plan should be approved.

“The scheme broadly follows the indicative layout considered at outline stage, as well as design advice in guidance and the South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP). On the whole the scheme is considered to represent high quality design. On balance, the proposal would generally accord with the policies in the SWDP and is considered to represent sustainable development.”

The third phase will be built on land to the south of phases one and two - which comprise of 91 and 113 homes respectively - which are currently being built.

The homes in the third phase would be a mix of two-to-four-bed homes, one-bed flats and two-bed bungalows - 38 of which would be affordable.

The overall 300-home plan also included a plan to build a new bridge across Swinesherd Way which has now been finished.

Whittington Parish Council had objected to the plan saying the homes would be too close to the M5 motorway and would also be isolated from nearby shops and facilities.

Persimmon also put forward plans to build a further 60 homes to the north of the third phase at the end of 2019 but a decision has not yet been made.

The plan was backed by 14 votes to none with one abstention.