CONCERNS are growing about plans for a new 300-home estate near Worcester - with fears it will heap "serious pressure" on roads, schools and the hospital.

Developers want to create a new settlement on acres of open fields off Swinesherd Way, Spetchley in a proposal years in the making.

These images show how sections of the site could look, complete with lavish landscaping, mature trees and a huge play area.

But some Worcester councillors say the project, which is being done on a piece-meal basis, will only add to concerns on infrastructure.

Malvern Gazette:

It comes at a time when Worcester is facing the prospect of two huge 'super villages', - one south of the city near St Peter's for 2,200 homes, and another off Oldbury Road in St John's for 1,400 properties.

The Swinesherd Way fields are close to Worcestershire Royal Hospital, Spetchley Road and London Road.

Tory Councillor Alan Amos, who sits on the city's planning committee, said: "This is another massive development and like the rest of them, they are all putting problems on the infrastructure.

"All of this puts pressure on Worcester schools, roads, doctor's surgeries, the hospital, and clearly even after this there's more house building to come.

"We need to express our serious concerns over congestion and Worcester's lack of proper infrastructure to deal with all this."

Malvern Gazette:

Other politicians involved with the planning system have called for beefed-up infrastructure to be put in place before large estates are built.

Green Councillor Louis Stephen said: "We already know the hospital has big capacity problems, and that Worcester has serious congestion issues.

"We need to plan this far more effectively - we need to put the infrastructure in first before we get the houses.

"We might be looking at this saying 'it's 50 houses here, 100 houses there', but actually overall we're looking at thousands."

Whittington Parish Council has also voiced concern over developing the land including congestion, possible flooding and loss of green space.

The 18-hectares of fields are included in the South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP) which earmarks sites for 28,370 homes by 2030 across Worcester, Malvern and Wychavon.

The site, pictured below, sits just outside Worcester City Council's administrative border with Wychavon and is behind Hill House, Swinesherd Lane.

Malvern Gazette:

Developer Robert Hitchins has already secured outline planning approval for the 300 properties, with Persimmon Homes now submitting detailed, final plans for 91 of them.

Andrew Hill, land and planning director at Robert Hitchins, said: "The councils have allocated this site for residential development in the SWDP and have subsequently granted outline planning permission.

"What is currently under consideration is Persimmon’s application for reserved matters approval which deals with the detail - not the principal - of the proposals."

Persimmon Homes says 40 per cent of its homes will be affordable, and that the development will include 4.5 hectares of maintained green open space, giving it a "leafy edge-of-suburb feel" and "semi-rural" appearance.

It will include significant open space, watercourses, hedgerow boundaries, rows of impressive mature trees and bund landscaping.

The firm has also cited the A4440 Southern Link Road dualling project and bridleway, insisting the infrastructure is being upgraded to cope.

Andy Peters, managing director for Persimmon Homes South Midlands, said: “Under the scheme, the local area will benefit from a varied selection of well-built homes in an area where housing is in high-demand.

"The construction of the new development in Whittington also promises to bring with it a host of new job opportunities, as well as providing residents with nearby transport links thanks to its excellent location."

Malvern Gazette:

It is expected to be considered by Wychavon District Council's planning committee next Thursday, April 6 and includes one, two, three and four bed houses.

Councillor Richard Morris, Wychavon’s cabinet member for the economy and housing, said: “We really need more affordable homes so we can support the economy and help people, Worcestershire’s economy is one of the fastest growing in the country.

“Even other tenancies of homes are needed. Green space is also very important to a development.”

*What do you think – is Worcester going to cope with all the new homes on the way in future years? Email te@worcesternews.co.uk or leave your comment below.