CONTROVERSIAL plans for 61 homes on a landfill site at Powick now look set to be the subject of a public inquiry.

The application by Selbourne Homes came up before Malvern Hills councillors at meetings in October and December, but on both occasions, a decision was postponed to to allow further investigations into possible land contamination to be carried out.

Selbourne Homes has now lodged an appeal, on the grounds that the district council has failed to make a decision on the application, and has specifically requested that the appeal is considered by a public inquiry.

Local residents have said that wasted deposited on the site off Hospital Lane, which includes debris from the demolition of the old Powick mental hospital, could include asbestos and other toxic materials.

Residents also oppose the plans because of concerns about highways and access safety, the potential for flooding on the site, which they say is poorly drained, and the lack of community facilities, including shops, doctors and school places, in the village.

However, district council planning officers have consistently recommended approval of the development.

As part of the appeals process, the application will be coming up before the council's northern area development management committee on Wednesday, January 7.

Councillors will be asked to indicate what decision they would have come up with if the applicant had not lodged its appeal. Once again, planning officers are recommending that planning permission should be granted.