A RALLYING call has been made to ensure Droitwich’s voice is heard after an influx of planning applications in the town has raised concerns.
A public meeting has been arranged to give concerned people a clearer idea of what different types of planning applications mean and what role they can play in either supporting or opposing them.
The meeting has been arranged by Coun Dan Birch after many residents contacted him expressing their fears.
In December, plans for 100 new affordable homes on a field off Tagwell Road were given the go-ahead.
A recent bid to build up to 180 homes on land at Chawson Lane has been of particular concern to residents, as has a planning application for 475 homes on land at Hanbury Road.
With both applications, residents have raised worries about the potential increase in traffic and the impact on the current infrastructure.
St Phillips, who submitted the bid for the mooted Chawson Lane development, claims that as the Local Planning Authority cannot demonstrate a five-year housing land supply, the proposals would significantly contribute to addressing the affordability crisis within Wychavon.
A transport assessment and travel plan for the Hanbury Road proposal, commissioned by Ainscough Strategic Land, concludes that the proposed development is considered acceptable in both transport and planning terms.
Coun Birch said: “We have seen an influx of planning applications within Droitwich Spa lately, with Tagwell Road, Hanbury Road, and Chawson Lane.
“We will provide more advice and guidance as to how we, as a town, can influence planning applications.
“I do see the comments, and I obviously live in the town too.
“If it were up to me, we wouldn’t be building in Droitwich at anywhere near the rate we have been.
“However, it is not up to me, nor often the council, to decide on where developers decide they want to apply to build; that’s up to the land owners.
“Similarly, planning officers are tied down by both government housing targets and national planning policy.
“That’s why, if we want to see the level of development reduce and, perhaps more importantly, the level of infrastructure increase, it’s important we look at how we can work together to achieve this.”
The public meeting will take place between 6pm and 7pm on Tuesday, May 5, at Droitwich Community Hall.
Worcestershire County Councillors will be on hand, along with invited speakers, to answer any questions about the planning system.
