A CONTROVERSIAL plan to build 30 homes on green space in a village will not be allowed to go ahead.

The application to build the homes on land at Old Hills off Upton Road in Callow End near Worcester was rejected by Malvern Hills District Council at the start of the year over fears it would ruin the character of the village and countryside.

Developer Terra lodged an appeal with the government’s planning inspectorate hoping to get the decision overturned but was turned down for a second time.

Planning inspector Jessica Powis said the land was unsuitable for housing and building there would cause “significant harm” to the landscape which would “endure even beyond the 15 years assessed.”

In a report following the inquiry, she said: “Future residents of the [homes] would almost certainly need to leave the village in order to access work, education beyond primary school and many other routine health and retail facilities that are only available in larger settlements.

“The site’s close physical proximity to the village is not sufficient to justify its suitability as a location for 30 new houses.

“This would represent an extension of a significant scale relative to the size of the village and generate a considerable increase in journeys taken by car.”

The council’s planners had rejected the plan saying it would “encroach” on the countryside as well as harm the landscape and the character of Callow End.

More than 110 objections were made against the plan by residents in Callow End before the plan was rejected by the council.

Many of the objections criticised the development for being “overbearing” and using a “dangerous and inappropriate” access road off the village’s busy Upton Road.

Residents also objected to plan over the effect it would have on the local schools, GP surgery and other services as well as the increase in traffic it would cause.

Powick Parish Council had also objected to the plan saying the homes would be built on an “elevated position” in the village, was outside its development boundary and had not been included in the South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP).