A VALE landowner has blamed villagers for blocking plans for affordable homes, following a Government report criticising Wychavon's housing department.

Geoffrey Byrd, who owns land in and around Fladbury and Charlton, contacted the Journal after the damming report revealed there was a disturbing lack of rented or affordable homes in Vale villages.

Mr Byrd said: "I have been trying for about ten years to get permission to get some of my land used for social housing but the plans have always been turned down, particularly at parish council level.

"It is a great shame - there are so many homeless people in B&B's and on the housing waiting lists and there is land available but residents don't want new houses built in their villages. If they don't allow expansion then their shops and schools will be lost and villages will die."

He added: "I am not talking about huge developments, just about ten houses every decade would be about right."

Chairman of Fladbury Parish Council, Bill Llewellyn said: "We have a local village plan which has been agreed by Wychavon District Council. Until the planning rules change and Wychavon force us to do something different we will be sticking to it."

Head of planning Jack Hegarty said: "Landowners should use the local plan process to try and get land allocated. It is always hard to put new housing in villages. Our new district local plan, however, will make it easier for expansion plans to go forward provided they are justified. The government is encouraging local parish plans to address affordable housing."