Worcestershire Countryside 'Destroyed' by Government Housing Targets, Council Claims
Worcestershire's countryside is being "destroyed" to meet government housing targets, according to a planning committee. Wychavon District Council's planning committee expressed frustration over a plan to build 59 homes in Drakes Broughton, but councillors felt compelled to approve it due to external pressures.
Council's Dilemma Over Development
Councillor Emma Kearsey highlighted the council's consistent rejection of housing schemes in the village, only for government planning inspectors to overturn those decisions. "We don't want any more development at Drakes Broughton, because it's hypocritical," she stated at a recent planning meeting. Kearsey explained that while Wychavon is planning a new town to prevent villages from merging, the government imposed a 97 percent increase in housing targets, shifting numbers from Birmingham to Wychavon. "How do we find those housing numbers when we've already got the new settlement planned? We find it by destroying our countryside," she added.
Infrastructure and Community Concerns
Discussing the development off Stonebow Road, Cllr Kearsey noted that in "normal times," the committee would have grounds for refusal, but current circumstances make it impossible. "It's inappropriate development. We know the sewers can't cope with it. But there seems to be nothing whatsoever we can do about it," she said. Councillor Rick Deller criticized the applicant for not attending to defend the plan, calling it "disrespectful," and noted that lack of objections from statutory consultees like highways and drainage experts left councillors with no choice.
Impact on Village Life
Parish councillor Janet Butterworth reported that Drakes Broughton's homes have increased from 686 a decade ago to over 900, potentially reaching 1,400 with ongoing developments. "That's a huge increase – no big plan, just incremental increases individually assessed and individually accepted. Piecemeal – not co-ordinated and not joined up planning at all," she said. Butterworth warned of more houses, people, cars, less open space, fewer buses, and disappearing community cohesion.
Resident Complaints and Safety Issues
Resident Mark Grisdale raised serious concerns, stating, "Raw sewerage regularly bursts out of inspection covers due to a lack of capacity in the system," with surface water flooding being common. He added that intensive agricultural expansion has made roads resemble industrial estate entrances, endangering horse riders and runners on Walcott Lane or Stonebow Road. "Residents are in despair over the developments – they feel they are never listened to," Grisdale concluded.
Committee's Decision
Chairman Nicolas Wright lamented, "It's very sad indeed it's got to a stage in planning where we can't look after a village like that." Despite these concerns, councillors voted seven to five in favor of the outline planning application, underscoring the tension between local autonomy and national housing mandates.
