Controversial Wyche Road housing plans approved despite local opposition

Developers are planning to knock down the buildings in Wyche Road and replace them with nine apartments.

Planners approved the plans last week despite submissions to the council calling the site an "appalling precedent".

84 submissions objecting to the plan were received by the district council in addition to 25 in support.

We previously reported how concerns were being raised about the need to potentially blast rock from the site, with a number of residents saying the noise, dust and safety concerns were too great.

In its summary of the concerns raised, district council reports said: "The design is ugly with a boxy, system-built units that could be from anywhere and should be improved.

"The forms of all three, their mass, style, proportions overwhelm the efforts to distinguish them with different surface treatments.

"If the owner had not let the buildings fall into disrepair the Upper Wyche would still be a vibrant community with aesthetics considered good, even exceptional.

"This sets an appalling precedent."

At a planning meeting on January 19, Malvern Hills District Council voted to approve the plans, in spite of local opposition.

Malvern Wells Parish Council said it objected to the plans because the proposed design was not in keeping with the surrounding buildings.

In its submission, the council also said the traffic management measures contained in the plan were "lacking" and that the additional information provided did not provide clarity over the rock removal from the hillside behind the site.

When built, the nine new apartments will also include 12 parking spaces and solar panels.

The plans also include building a steel frame to form an undercroft allowing for parking.

A stone façade will then be built around the steel superstructure, enclosing the undercroft and creating a secure compound where deliveries and contractor parking will be directed in order to minimize disruption to Wyche Road.