Decision made on homes plan at Malvern St James School

Malvern St James School had submitted plans for housing on an unused area of playing fields off Madresfield Road.

It said the land couldn’t be used for sport because of its position and topography.

But district planners said the location wasn’t suitable for such a development.

The site of the proposed homes (Image: Greenaway Planning)

Landscape officers had objected to the plan because it would lead to a loss of mature trees and Malvern Civic Society said once a green space is lost, it will not be regained.

“While each individual encroachment seems minor, the continued loss of green space leads to a significant impact,” said the society’s Stephen Goodenough.

Sport England said building homes so close to a floodlit hockey pitch could lead to future disagreements that could impact on the use of the pitch.

It also questioned the school’s assessment that the land was unusable as a sports facility, saying it could be marked out as a five-a-side pitch.

Neighbours also objected to the proposal, raising concerns over road safety as well as the loss of green space.

Gavin O’Mahoney said: “This development will add considerable traffic and pollution and be a death trap for motorists and pedestrians.

“Properties opposite will be blighted by car headlights shining into their front windows from exiting vehicles.

“This is a relatively small piece of land that is not suitable for this type of infill development in this location.

“The green space is far more valuable for the environment and wildlife. More should be done to preserve the green spaces in our urban areas.

“This will not add anything meaningful to the lack of housing provision and I urge that brownfield sites are developed first and foremost.”

Peter Wilkinson said: “Madresfield Road already has a considerable traffic problem with many drivers pusing it as a cut-through and as such in many cases ignoring the speed limits.

“The particular site of this would-be application relatest to an immediate curve before the end of Madresfield Road which on most days is a traffic nightmare.”