MP Harriett Baldwin has backed a campaign to stop houses being built next to an ancient woodland.

The West Worcestershire MP has repeated her support for campaigners who are battling to protect Tiddesley Wood from the threat of house-building.

Mrs Baldwin met with Wychavon District Council leader Bradley Thomas and Colin Raven, director of Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, to hear an update on efforts to ensure future planning respects a green buffer zone protecting the ancient woodlands.

A proposal to build houses near to the wood has now been removed from the revised South Worcestershire Development Plan - but the district council is concerned a housing developer may intend to put a speculative application in ahead of the formal examination of the local plan.

READ MORE: Campaigner dismay as plan for hundreds of homes next to ancient woodland returns

The local plan needs to be regularly revised and it is expected to be publicly examined by a housing inspector later this year.

“Like many local people, I was troubled to see plans to develop houses on the edge of Tiddesley Wood a couple of years ago, and I was pleased to hear that, after I made representations to the local district council, it does not plan to allow this site to go forward in the new version of the South Worcestershire Development Plan,” said Mrs Baldwin.

“There is strong opposition to development in this area and it was useful to hear the views of Worcestershire Wildlife Trust about their fears of the impact to nature, as well as the potential damage to an important local leisure resource.

“I’ve been contacted by campaign groups and individuals who are strongly opposed to any development which could negatively impact on Tiddesley Wood and I have agreed to write to Wychavon District Council sharing this information.

“I have always said that housing development should take place with the consent of local people, at sites where people agree to have new homes, and this is a classic example of a site where planners should strongly resist future applications and protect our green spaces.”