PERSIMMON Homes, one of the companies behind Droitwich’s Yew Tree Hill development, has come under fire after applying for planning permission to put an extra 180 homes across the two sites before making key changes to the infrastructure.
One site is on land at Pulley Lane, Newlands Road and Primsland Way and the other is north of Pulley Lane and Newland Lane.
Persimmon wants the relevant conditions lifted and wants to be able to increase the number of occupied homes from 75 to 90 before the work is required.
Last month a legal agreement between Wychavon District Council and Persimmon was formed after Persimmon breached a condition outlined by the Secretary of State relating to the site.
A planning injunction was served to prevent anymore work being carried out until highways issues were sorted.
The company was told it must widen Pulley Lane and carry out works on the Pulley Lane and A38 junction before construction continued.
Claims were made at Monday’s Droitwich Town Meeting that construction companies were using the narrow Pulley Lane as a two-way access to the site when it had been stipulated a one-way system should be used, requiring vehicles to go along Pulley Lane, Newland Lane and Tagwell Road.
Droitwich Town Council has contacted Wychavon to oppose the new applications regarding the occupied property increases before highway improvements are made.
And Coun Richard Morris told The Standard he was very unhappy about the proposed variations.
“We need Worcestershire County Highways to say this variation is not possible and that the required widening and junction works are a priority.
He urged residents to continue to get in touch when there were issues with construction traffic.
“I have already received a number of emails which have been passed as evidence of inappropriate action to Wychavon Planning, County Highways and the developers.”
Gary Williams, Wychavon District Council’s head of housing and planning, said: “We have visited the site and confirmed that the agreed traffic control measures are in place in accordance with the mitigation scheme agreed by the courts.
“We will continue to share all concerns raised with us with both Worcestershire County Council and the developers.
“We will also continue to monitor the situation to ensure the traffic management system remains appropriate.
“We would encourage anyone with evidence of deliberate misuse of the system to report it to us.”
Andrew Peters, managing director for Persimmon Homes South Midlands, said: “These submitted applications reflect the agreement which has been reached between Persimmon/Redrow and Wychavon District Council together with the Worcestershire County Highways team to allow the development to progress pragmatically whilst technical approvals are concluded.
“We believe we are fully complying with the temporary mitigation measures agreed to accommodate construction traffic along Pulley Lane.”
Residents wanting to comment on the applications need to do so before the deadline next Friday (March 31).
They can visit www.wychavon.gov.uk and use the number W/16/02240 to find the details.
