A PLANNING application to build homes on the site of a Kidderminster community centre has been withdrawn after more than 200 residents protested.

But Wyre Forest Community Housing has insisted it never intended to knock down Broadwaters Community Centre despite applying for permission to build 14 dwellings on the site.

Residents raised a petition with more than 200 signatures after learning of the bid. They said the centre had only been built in 1988 and was in use every day.

However, housing company head of development Paul Wootton said the centre occupied "quite a large piece of land" off Upton Road and Badlands Avenue, part of which is zoned for housing under the district Local Plan.

He added Wyre Forest District Council had told the company it risked losing the zoning, which would prevent future development, unless it applied for outline permission to build on the site.

Despite the application there were no plans to knock the community centre down, Mr Wootton stressed.

A consultation event was held on the plan in August which raised a "number" of issues and as a result of the petition the company had now withdrawn the planning application.

"We are now back to square one," he added.