RESIDENTS in the St Andrew's Road area of Malvern are getting together in response to a new planning application by QinetiQ.

The high-technology company plans to develop part of its site for housing.

The application to Malvern Hills District Council is for a one-and-a-half acre site on the east side of St Andrew's Road, between Fraser Close and the entrance to QinetiQ.

The proposed new access to the home is opposite the entrance to County Building Supplies

Fraser Close resident Janet Parker said: "We're appalled because obviously we're going to have a number of houses on the other side of the fence. We're not impressed at all.

"It's going to be utter chaos, what with the lorries going in there (the builders' yard) and the traffic going into QinetiQ.

"It obviously needs to be developed, but I think some nice tasteful houses or bungalows something that's going to be in keeping with the existing bungalows."

Local residents held a meeting on Wednesday night and are considering their response.

The site is currently occupied by a visitors' car park and two office buildings known as S and T. The applications calls for 21 two-bedroom flats and 17 three-bedroom houses.

Last month, MHDC turned down an application for 14 houses at the Three Counties Garage, Court Road, just half a mile down the road from this latest application.

QinetiQ spokesman Douglas Millard said S and T buildings, which used to be houses before being requisitioned by QinetiQ's predecessor organisation, were now surplus to requirements.

"Offices are being consolidated in new purpose-built buildings on the site and we don't need these buildings any more," he said. "We're hoping to return the land to residential use."