A CONTROVERSIAL planning application for houses in Malvern has been resubmitted, this time without any affordable housing provision.

Plans to build 11 houses and six flats to the rear of the Foley Arms in Malvern were rejected earlier this year, but developer Elevate Property has resubmitted plans for the site, saying it is not possible to provide any affordable housing, as agreed with Malvern Hills District Council.

In a planning addendum sent to the council, the developer says: "Following on from the original submission, a viability exercise has been undertaken and has demonstrated that is not possible to provide any affordable housing provision with the current scheme and this matter is not revisited as part of this addendum as it is agreed with the Council."

Elevate also wants to remove a building on-site, believed to have been a stable in the past.

READ MORE: Building at Foley Arms site "would end town centre plans" say town group

The addendum also said: “Similarly, an updated heritage statement has been submitted to substantiate the removal of the single storey building at the back of the site believed to once have been a stable.

"The heritage report concludes that there is little evidence of the building ever being used as a stable and that it is of no historic merit.

"That said, we have agreed with the council that the building will be the subject of a written recording prior to its demolition.”

The proposals following the amendments to the scheme still consist of 17 dwellings in all with 11 houses and six flats.

"The redevelopment also includes three commercial units along the site frontage with Edith Walk."

READ MORE: Elevate responds to criticisms of Foley Arms development plans

In considering responses to the first plans, which included strong resistance from Malvern Civic Society, the developer said: “In the first instance it must be acknowledged that the site is a sustainable brownfield site within the centre of Malvern and the proposed development offers the opportunity to enhance what is forgotten element of the Malvern Townscape that is currently used on an ad-hoc basis for parking and detracts from the appearance of the Malvern Conservation Area.”

As a brownfield site, Elevate also claims the benefits of building on the site “significantly outweigh the less than substantial harm, which is, as acknowledged, at the lowermost end of the spectrum of harm.”

When the application was first submitted earlier this year, the civic society raised concerns on the removal of plants and additional traffic generated by the development.

Malvern Town Council also raised traffic concerns, but not concerns over the removal of plants.