The site

This c.7.5 hectare site is situated to the east of Dilmore Lane in Fernhill Heath. To the south are recently built homes on Suffolk Way, Herdwick Close and Portland Close. To the east, there is further housing on Station Road and Kennels Lane. To the north and west is farmland.

Currently the site is arable farmland, divided into several fields by hedgerows. There is a small and largely overgrown pond in the south of the site, fed by a stream flowing from the south-west corner. Ground levels fall from the west and north-east towards the pond and centre of the site.

Currently the site isn’t allocated for housing. However, there remains a significant shortfall in the delivery of housing, as we explain below, which our site could help address:

• Wychavon – along with neighbouring Worcester City and Malvern Hills councils – has produced the South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP), setting out development areas until 2030. This plan is currently being reviewed because there remains a shortfall in the number of homes being built;
• Every local planning authority currently has to demonstrate it has enough new homes in its pipeline – referred to as a housing land supply. Wychavon currently falls below this housing land supply;
• North Claines Neighbourhood Plan, adopted in 2017, seeks to restrict further development beyond the current village boundaries: but it also recognises that where the housing land supply is below the minimum required, additional housing – even outside village boundaries – can be acceptable;
• The only other restrictions would be if the site was in the Green Belt, was classified as a Local Green Space, or was at risk of flooding – none of which apply to the site.