PEOPLE across Worcester have voiced concern about a £500 million 'super village' - saying they fear the character of the city being changed forever.

As the Worcester News exclusively revealed on Saturday, plans for a 2,200 home suburb between St Peter's and Kempsey have now been submitted to the city council.

The immense proposal - driven forward by London-based investors Welbeck Land - is part of the South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP) and includes a hotel, primary school, retail, business units, streets and open parks, effectively ‘filling in’ acres of green land for a new estate.

It comes at the same time as developer Bloor Homes submitted plans for 1,400 homes off Oldbury Road in Lower Broadheath, which will form part of the west Worcester urban extension - meaning the city's western and southern boundaries are set to get a total of 3,600 new homes.

Since the weekend this newspaper has received a deluge of reaction from people living in the city.

Many say Worcester will get a big economic boost from the plans, but even more have cited fears around congestion, school places, the city's boundaries being effectively extended and even the environment.

Pauline Sell, 57, a teacher who lives in Rainthorpe Avenue, St Peter's, said: "When after estate came along I remember people saying Worcester could not be extended any more south, that this really was it.

"If we keep on building homes and estates, where do we stop? There will be little difference anywhere in the country, we'd have sprawl everywhere.

"You will get the usual moaners about traffic, but the real problem is the city's character."

John Cain, a 68-year-old pensioner who lives in Kempsey, said: "I can quite see why developers would find the area attractive, but what about people living in Kempsey?

"The traffic is pretty bad around Worcester as it is, you've got to stop building somewhere."

Another St Peter's resident, who did not want to be named, said: "None of these homes should be built until the Carrington Bridge is made bigger, but you can bet it'll be the other way around.

"Malvern and Evesham have way more room than Worcester, why not look at land there? The city is choker."

But Anne Lawrence, who lives off London Road, emailed to say it would be "good news for Worcester".

"The land they are looking at is unused, nobody even knows it's there, we are hardly losing a valued site," she said.

"Surely it will help the city, especially when I go into town and see empty shops because not enough people are going in and spending."

Another reader emailed us, who did not want to be named, saying: "All you will hear is moan, moan, moan from the usual people - all I will say is at least Worcester is getting this kind of investment.

"A hotel sounds a good idea, we also need another school in that catchment area anyway. Bring it on."

Scores of people have also contacted us on social media offering mixed views on the development.

A reader called MikeWorcs, writing on our website, said: "Projects like this provide temporary work for skilled tradesmen and (possible) work for local equipment suppliers, that's all and good, but 3,600 new homes will bring in a significant number of people needing jobs."

The Welbeck Land scheme, known as the South Worcester Urban Extension, has been submitted as an outline planning application and is expected to be voted on next month.

The SWDP earmarks land for job creation as well as properties.

City leaders have hailed the two developments as a “great sign of confidence” in Worcester, including MP Robin Walker.

* EXCLUSIVE: Plans revealed for 3,600 new homes in £500m+ bid to 'change the face' of Worcester