A plan to build 70 ‘affordable’ homes in Evesham has been revealed.
The ‘affordable’ homes would be built at Merrybrook Farm off Pershore Road in Evesham under plans by housing developer Stonebond Properties.
The mix of one-to-four-bed homes would be built on around seven acres of “overgrown scrubland” – but classed as open countryside – next to the existing housing estate off Pershore Road.
A statement included with the application said: “The site is within a sustainable location, given the numerous services and facilities locally. Access to them will be via safe, pleasant streets for cyclists and pedestrians.
“Substantial and useable public open space is included in the scheme, offering places to play and walk.
“The site adjoins a modern housing estate and would form a natural extension of the town but provide a softer edge to the rural hinterland.
“Whilst it has been acknowledged that the site is within open countryside, substantial weight should be afforded to the provision of affordable housing in light of the significant housing land supply issues being faced in the district.
“There is an urgent and pressing need for more affordable housing to address the shortfall and affordability issues in the district more generally.”
An application by Elan Homes to build 29 homes on the land was rejected by planners in 2015. An appeal was made to the government’s planning inspector to get the decision overturned but it was thrown out.
Inspectors said building more housing would not “positively improve the quality of the built or natural environment and cannot, therefore, be considered as sustainable development.”
This came after planners gave the green light for 27 homes on the land two years earlier.
Housing developer Belway already has permission to build up to 400 homes, many of which have already been built, on neighbouring land off Pershore Road.
Stonebond Properties also has plans to build 56 ‘affordable’ homes in Fladbury.
You can view the new housing plans for Evesham by visiting Wychavon District Council’s website. The application number is W/23/01269/FUL and consultation ends on September 8.
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