A CONTROVERSIAL plan to build 57 new homes on the site of a former medals office in Droitwich has been given the green light.

Wychavon district councillors praised the design of 33 houses and 24 apartments for Roman Park, which stretches 3.2 acres (1.3 hectares), just off the Worcester Road.

Work is due to start in three months on the homes, which include a mix of three-storey apartment blocks, three-bedroom two-storey houses, three-bedroom terraced and semi-detached houses and four and five-bedroom two, two-and-a-half, and three-storey homes.

But the idea met less enthusiasm from Droitwich member, Councillor Pam Davey, who voted against the proposal.

She said: "A concern to people is the height of these blocks in the middle.

"For the housing to the east that is really going to stand out on the skyline and I think that hasn't perhaps been given the consideration it might have been given."

People living near to the development site have also said they do not like the design. They are worried about a play area attracting anti-social behaviour and think that the flats will be too high.

Droitwich town council also objected to the site layout, design, highways access and a lack of information about how employment land would be used.

Although outline permission was given to a mix of homes and offices on the site, only the residential element has been developed so far.

Coun Anna Mackison said: "I haven't got a problem with housing going on the site but I don't want us to lose sight of the fact that there was employment on it previously and we are going to have 100 or so people living there and no employment for them.

But Coun Roma Kirke congratulated architects Boughton Butler LLP and developer Kingerlee Homes and said: "I'm absolutely delighted. My goodness, the 21st century has arrived in Wychavon.

"The scheme is exciting, there is variety and somebody has had the courage to use glass and air, essential building materials, with great imagination and foresight. I think this might well become a benchmark scheme."

Councillors approved the plan subject to the resolution of highways access problems and also supported Coun Jean Dowty's suggestion the developer contributed towards youth activities which she said were desperately needed in Droitwich.

After the meeting, David Coates, Kingerlee's planning director, said the employment land would be marketed over the next 12 months.