A SPECIAL meeting is to be held to discuss whether Malvern Hills Science Park will be allowed to use a new office and laboratory building before improvements are made to nearby roads.

Planning permission was granted for phase three of the science park, off Gerald-ine Road, Barnards Green, in May 2005, subject to various conditions and an agreement that included making off-site road improvements. But public consultations and lengthy discussions between Malvern Hills Science Park and Worc-estershire County Council over the road improvements on Barnards Green Road with the junction of Geraldine Road and also with the junction of Poolbrook Road, as well as traffic calming measures on Geraldine Road, have delayed the use of the development. Malvern Hills Sci-ence Park is now applying to vary the agreement so that the road improvements can include the installation of traffic lights at the Barnards Green Road and Geraldine Road junction, which the highways authority would prefer.

It also wants to use the new development before the road improvements are complete and for a temporary 20mph speed limit to be brought in on Geraldine Road until the road imp-rovements are finished.

In a report to Malvern Hills District Council's special southern area development committee, which meets on Thursday, head of development control Dun-can Rudge says: "Malvern Hills Science Park is concerned that delay in agreeing appropriate junction improvements with the highway authority and the detail of the traffic calming scheme for Geraldine Road is adversely affecting its ability to let the newly constructed buildings at the science park. It wishes to be allowed to occupy phase three of their development prior to completion of the off-site highway works."

The committee is being recommended to approve the changes which are also supported by the district council's community development and economic strategy unit.