CONTROVERSIAL plans to build 61 homes on a former landfill site in Powick have been given the go-ahead by a government inspector.

The decision has angered residents and councillors, who have defiantly fought the Selbourne Homes proposals for more than half a year.

Land off Hospital Lane, which opponents say is a health risk because of asbestos contamination, will now be transformed into a housing estate in an act labelled “environmental vandalism”.

Councillor Tom Wells, of Worcestershire County Council, who has campaigned passionately against the planning bid, said: “I am really angered by the government inspector's decision to grant this appeal.

“She is in effect telling developers they can build pretty much whatever they want, wherever they want.

“However, it remains to be seen if the developer will actually be able to sell their houses on this contaminated old landfill site.

“I think Malvern Hills District Council has also to accept some of the blame.

“Without an up to date Local Plan and a five-year housing supply, it has rendered itself completely at the mercy of speculative large scale development of this kind.

“In short, it amounts to environmental vandalism.”

Campaigner Peter Huntington, who set up the Hospital Lane Action Group in opposition to the planned development by Selbourne Homes, added: “I am extremely disappointed by this result.

“It feels like planning rules and regulations have been thrown out and that it is open season for developers.”

The fate of the development was left in the hands of a government planning inspector after Selbourne Homes lodged an appeal on the grounds that Malvern Hills District Council had failed to make a decision on the application.

Planning committees had deferred voting on the proposal at a number of meetings.

Councillor Melanie Baker, portfolio holder for planning and housing at Malvern Hills District Council, said: “We are disappointed with the decision as we felt we had good grounds for defending the appeal.

“However we are pleased the inspector noted we were right to take a precautionary approach in respect of the contamination and residents’ fears were genuine and a material consideration in relation to this application.

“In addition we are pleased the inspector agrees with us that before development can take place, a detailed site investigation and risk assessment must be carried out and approved by the council.

“We are also happy the inspector has seen fit not to order the council to pay all of the developer’s costs in this case.”

Villagers have not however completely given up hope of fighting the proposals.

Mr Huntington added: “We now really need to think about what, if anything, we can do next.

“We need to consider what opportunities are open to us and this is not necessarily the end of the entire process.”

Selbourne Homes declined to comment.