RESIDENTS have questioned how Worcester’s hospital and GP surgeries would cope with 250 homes being built on the edge of the city.

The University of Worcester’s plan to build a huge new estate off Oldbury Road in Dines Green was revealed this week.

And people are wondering whether the city has the infrastructure to support such a development.

Mary Jones said on Facebook: “Worcestershire Royal Hospital cannot cope because they are under terrible pressure.

“Where are these people who will occupy these homes supposed to go? There is no infrastructure around them - no buses, no schools, no doctors.”

Krzysztof Czarnecki added: “Can we have a new hospital and a couple of new GP surgeries please?”

READ MORE: University of Worcester plan for 250 homes off Oldbury Road

The plans are not being developed in isolation - several other proposals totalling thousands of homes are coming forward as part of the urban extension of Worcester to the south and west of Dines Green and St John’s, and a new town is being planned around Worcestershire Parkway.

Emma Sherwood said the university added: “No more ripping up of our countryside in the name of education. If they want more housing, get them to find another way.”

But Jed Lampitt said: “People moaned about the lack of affordable housing, yet when part of a solution is presented, they continue to mank and moan, citing the university as the ‘big evil’.

“You do realise how much the university brings to the city don’t you?”

A commenter on the Worcester News website said the application “should not be approved until it is known to be only for student accommodation”.

Another said: “All these new houses should be student HMOs to relieve our surrounding neighbourhood.”

One person said they hoped residents would be given the chance to have their say on the plans.

The proposal currently being considered by Malvern Hills and Worcester councils is an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Screening Report. A public consultation is likely to start when outline plans are submitted.

Previously, a spokesperson for the University of Worcester said: “Over the past five years, the university has been developing its Severn Campus into a beacon for health, wellbeing, medicine, and disability sport.

“The university’s priority is now to develop these sites on the Severn Campus.

“The land at Temple Laugherne has previously been identified as being suitable for housing in the South Worcestershire Development Plan and has been subject to previous planning applications for residential development.

“The university is now working with professional advisors to bring forward a proposal for a residential development on this site.”