DISTRICT councillors are set to decide on unpopular plans to build dozens of homes in a village near Worcester.

Binocular Land Ltd wants to build up to 80 homes on land off Old Malvern Road between Powick and Collett’s Green.

But dozens of residents have objected, saying there is a lack of shops and other amenities in the area and that the local primary school won’t be able to cope with an increase in demand.

The outline application was submitted last year and is due to be decided on by members of Malvern District Council’s northern area planning committee next Wednesday (October 9).

LAYOUT: Where the houses would be located off Old Malvern RoadLAYOUT: Where the houses would be located off Old Malvern Road (Image: Black Box Planning)

Planning officers have recommended approval, saying the proposal would result in “economic and social benefits including short-term employment during construction”.

“Socially the proposal would make a valuable contribution towards the provision of a range of much needed accommodation of different types and tenures, and the affordable dwellings would attract great weight,” they say in a report going before next week’s committee meeting.

But Powick Parish Council objected to the plan, saying the site falls outside the Collet’s Green development boundary and isn’t included in the South Worcestershire Development Plan, a planning blueprint for the area.

Parish councillors highlighted the “limited” bus service in the area and say drivers avoiding congestion often use the Old Malvern Road as a cut-through.

READ MORE: Powick villagers say 80-home plan 'cannot happen'

Worcestershire Highways raised no objection, saying the scheme would “not result in an unacceptable impact on highway safety” and that there would be “safe and suitable access” from the main road.

But the report points out there is currently no safe walking route to school available from the site because of a lack of pavements on Old Malvern Road.

Planners suggest that if planning approval is granted, the developer should be required to contribute more than £300,000 to infrastructure projects via a section 106 agreement.

This includes a contribution of £52,000 for healthcare, £94,000 for school transport, £88,000 for SEND education and £117,000 for the Worcester to Malvern Active Travel Corridor.