Fears Warndon Villages' green barrier will be breached

PEOPLE in Warndon Villages are up in arms over the start of a consultation for a major housing development that will see one of the estate's final pieces of green land built on.

The site, known locally as Mabbs Orchard, was included in Worcester City Council's local plan 1996-2011, and currently forms a green barrier between houses and the A4440 link road.

But in 2004 the planning inspector reviewed the local plan and said the site could be used for housing.

The plan, which envisaged 40 houses, including 30 per cent 'affordable', said the scheme would not be able to start until 2006.

Less than a month into the new year, Persimmon Homes and Taylor Woodrow Developments, which own the land, signalled their intent by publishing plans.

The site, which is on land south of Trotshill Farm, on the Warndon Villages side of Trotshill Way, includes space for playing fields, allotments, and an "ecological zone" as well as the houses.

John Hill, whose Cobden Avenue home overlooks the site, said he had written to 200 local residents outlining the proposals and urging them to lodge their opposition with city planners.

An exhibition will take place at Woodgreen Evangelical Church, Warndon Villages, tomorrow between 1.30pm and 9pm.

"This is a greenfield site and a designated area special interest to wildlife - the brownfield sites should be developed before this," said Mr Hill.

"Also, it will be an invasion of privacy for us, will devalue our homes and the local primary school will not be able to cope with more children.

"Everyone who lives here has worked very hard to get their properties so why shouldn't we object."

The plans were discussed at the latest meeting of Warndon Parish Council, where members said they were astounded how soon the plans were revealed after the development restrictions had been lifted.

City councillor Lucy Hodgson said: "They have got this in mighty quick."

She added that the local plan stipulated the site would be one of the last green areas of Worcester to be developed.

"I was under the impression it was one of the last areas to be developed. There could be an argument that we ask whether anywhere else in the city could be done first."

Persimmon Homes, which has not yet submitted a formal planning application, said they wanted to hear the views of residents first, which they say they will take into account in producing a draft scheme.