Malvern Hills District Council should challenge government direction over long-term planning, says Malvern Town Council.

In its detailed response to the South Worcestershire Development Plan preferred options, the town council says the current plan is unacceptable.

The council's response in full: Further to the Town Council’s public meeting on 24 October 2011 regarding the SWDP Preferred Options consultation document, the Council has debated the proposals and also taken into account the views expressed by members of the public, both at the meeting and directly to the Council. These comments have been incorporated into the response below which relates to the Plan as a whole and, in particular, to Section 8 - Malvern. Please note that I have not completed the form supplied by MHDC which appears to be designed for an individual response. The Town Council considers that MHDC should challenge government direction. The current Plan is unacceptable and should be revised to produce a realistic local Plan incorporating the following points: 1. There should not be any major development outside of the town boundaries in the foreseeable future, and no significant development until the access from the A449 to the M5 is improved (this would include widening the river bridge).

2. There should be an emphasis on sustainable economic development, taking into account likely organic growth, the needs of an ageing population and the geography of the area.

3. Sympathetic small scale development in Malvern and the surrounding villages should be considered with a focus on social and low-cost housing to meet the needs of those who work in the caring services and support the local population.

4. An area-wide tourist strategy should be promoted, building on the attractions of Malvern, the wider area and the showground. This will bring more people to the town and benefit the shops and restaurants.

5. Windfall developments of any size should be included in the calculation of housing numbers, thus reducing the need for Green Field sites. Infilling and the potential offered by under-utilised Brown Field sites should also be investigated.

6. More imaginative use of available sites should ensure a mix of starter business units, industrial space and housing land which would create mini-communities and limit the increase in traffic.

7. A 20-year plan is too long, particularly given the unprecedented global economic crisis.

8. The statistics used in the Plan have been based on 2006 figures, which are outdated and take no account of the current economic situation.

9. MTC do not believe there is any evidence that businesses will be attracted to the West of the river due to the well-known congestion issues. Development should be considered East of the M5.

10. Malvern is a unique location and must not be turned into a dormitory town for Worcester.

11. Malvern Hills District Councillors should not be intimidated into creating a plan which is not in the best interests of their residents.

12. The Newlands development should be restricted to a sustainable level in line with village development policy. The Council considers the proposal for 750 homes to be unsustainable; a maximum of 50 homes would be more appropriate, together with the use of the former allotment site in Lower Howsell Road. The proposals for Newlands are too focused on ‘106 receipts’ which will be insufficient to carry out the required major improvements to the infrastructure.

13. MTC does not object in principal to the QinetiQ (South Site) proposals but proper consideration must be given to access.

14. MTC considers that there is potential for a mixed development of small industrial units and housing, similar to that proposed for North Site, at Blackmore Park. This would be more sustainable and put less pressure on the access roads around the Newlands Roundabout and Townsend Way Retail Park.

15. Consideration should be given to locating any long-term development outside the existing development boundaries to the East of the town with an extension of Townsend Way round to the Guarlford Road to allow through traffic to bypass Barnards Green.

16. Greater use of public transport should be encouraged and the possibility of a Park and Ride scheme at Malvern Link station should be investigated.

17. Provision of a faster broadband connection will be essential in order to encourage employment in Malvern – particularly for hi-tech businesses and home-working.