A CONTROVERSIAL planning blueprint for South Worcestershire has been approved by Malvern Hills councillors, following years of debate.

At the council's meeting on Tuesday, members voted 29-1 to approve the latest version of the South Worcestershire Development Plan, following a report by planning inspector Roger Clewes.

The sole dissenter, Cllr Julian Roskams, described it as a "sad and shocking indictment of the planning process" and said he could not support the plan because it was imposed at a national level and left little freedom to local councils.

But those who voted for it were scarcely more enthusiastic, saying for the most part that they were only voting for the plan to curtail the proliferation of speculative applications that have been made over the last couple of years.

Cllr David Harrison, although he seconded the motion to approve the plan proposed by portfolio holder Melanie Baker, said: "It should have been totally bottom-up, from the parish councils up. Instead, the developers have the upper hand and the government has been repeatedly moving the goalposts.

Cllr Dean Clark, who described the plan as "dreadful", said: "If we were to vote with our hearts, we would all be voting against it. With the heaviest heart possible, I will vote for this. Without a plan in place, we will go on being raped by developers. We will only be further in the ordure if we don't vote for it."

And Roger Hall-Jones said: "It may tick all the inspector's boxes, but what does it really mean for the people of the district? There is only one way forward, with great regret. But I am going to write to the inspector and tell him exactly what I think of his plan."

Cllr Tom Wells said: "I fear we're just bolting on satellite estates to the edges of Worcester and Malvern."

The only major change in the latest version of the plan is that a former playing field off Green Lane in Malvern Wells, originally earmarked for 35 homes, has been dropped.

The major development at Newland and the development of the QinieiQ site for homes and employment are confirmed, as are many other smaller sites around Malvern and the surrounding villages.

The plan will now go out to formal consultation Form Friday, October 9, to Friday, November 20, and is set to be in place early next year.