UP to 130 new homes could be built off one road in the village of Welland if a new planning application is approved.

The latest application, by Kler Homes, is to build the houses on land at Lawn Farm, off Drake Street, close to two sites where permission has already been granted for 80 houses to be built.

One of the plans already approved is for Bovis Homes to build 50 houses on another part of Lawn Farm.

And outline permission was granted last year for Guild Homes to build 30 houses on a neighbouring site, between the Old Post Office and Church Farm, also off Drake Street.

However, last week district councillors refused to give the go-ahead to a detailed application from Guild for the same site.

Although planning officers had recommended approval, members of Malvern Hills District Council's southern area development control committee, were unhappy about several aspects of the plan.

These included the height of houses facing onto Drake Street, the number of parking spaces, and the impact on a nearby Site of Special Scientific Interest, where bats and other significant species live.

At the meeting, local resident James Black, who lies directly opposite the proposed entrance to the development, told members the new houses would cause "significant damage to the character of the village" as well as overlooking existing properties, worries echoed by other householders.

Viv Nelson, chairman of the parish council, said: "The SSSI would be impacted severely and it's a national treasure that's been there for 40 years."

Cllr Mick Davies, the newly-elected ward councillor, said: "The four-storey houses facing on to Drake Street will be dominant and out of character in a road that is now characterised by scattered wayside dwellings."

And Cllr Bronwen Behan said: "Poor Welland is going to inundated with a large amount of housing."

Access off Drake Street on to the site and the number of parking spaces was also criticised, and members voted to delegate making a decision subject to further discussions with the developers about the height and massing of the houses facing Drake Street and the impact on the SSSI.