A PLAN to make a village bigger by building more than 60 new homes has been put forward.

Piper Homes has submitted a planning application which could see 62 new homes built on land off Church Road in Crowle near Worcester.

A handful of plans to build between five and 13 homes on the land were rejected by Wychavon District Council in 2012.

Another attempt to build five homes on the land was again rejected by council planners in 2014 and an appeal to the government’s planning inspector was also turned down.

The earmarked land for the new homes is outside Crowle’s current designated development boundary but was also put forward as a potential site for up to 40 new homes during the review of the South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP), the key county planning blueprint.

A statement from Piper Homes included with the application said: “The scheme proposes a high-quality development of 62 new dwellings, with associated landscaping, open space, parking and access.

“The scheme will provide an effective landscape buffer/informal open space around the site, to retain and enhance existing landscape features.

“In arriving at the design solution for the site, it has been shown how the context of the site, including existing constraints, opportunities, context and character have influenced the design and informed the final proposals.

“The layout and urban form of the scheme is such that it supports crime prevention and community safety, with development overlooking public spaces and streets.

“The proposals are in keeping with the surrounding context, in terms of density and scale and will not have any adverse effects in terms of highway safety, the amenity of neighbours, flood risk, heritage, ecology or any other environmental factors.

“The proposals will create a high-quality development which respects and complements the existing character of the surrounding area and deliver housing to meet local needs including a 40 per cent mix of affordable houses.”

In March, social housing provider Platform Housing had its plan to build 12 homes in Crowle backed by government planning inspectors months after being rejected by council planners.

More than 100 objections were raised against the plan by villagers after it was put forward last year.