Villagers are urging councillors to vote against plans to build 40 homes in Honeybourne, near Evesham.

Wychavon District Council’s planning committee is due to vote on Thursday (December 7) on proposals by Deeley Homes to build on a field off Stratford Road.

A Save Our Honeybourne Campaign Group has been created to oppose the development amid fears the popular village is at risk of being turned into a small town.

The group points out the latest bid goes against the Honeybourne Neighbourhood Development Plan created in 2020 following consultation with residents to inform future development in the village.

They say construction of a 60-home estate by Owl Homes on an adjacent field is not yet complete - and point to a 42 per cent growth in housing in Honeybourne since 2011.

Campaign group member Shahid Naqvi said: “Enough is enough. It feels as if Honeybourne is being targeted by developers looking to make big profits without any regard for what people living in the village want.

“This is a test case for the Honeybourne Neighbourhood Development Plan, which shows people are overwhelmingly against big developments like this. They expressed concern about the destruction of countryside, increased traffic congestion and the strain on infrastructure.

“If this goes ahead, it makes a mockery of that document and a mockery of local democracy.”

Louise Garfield, who lives on Stratford Road, said: “In the last year I watched the Owl Homes development going up behind my house and now this proposal in front of my house.

“We were told this was protected greenbelt land and would not be developed on but yet again big business is being put before people.

“Once this beautiful countryside has been concreted over it will be gone for good with the loss of the local ecology.

“It seems criminal that we are not protecting this valuable natural asset. It will be a shameful travesty if this is given the go-ahead.”

Developer Deeley Homes, in a design statement included as part of its planning application, said: “It is important to respect the semi-rural location which the site occupies and this is reflected in the layout which has been prepared.”

It adds that access to the site is proposed at its eastern corner to “minimise conflict with existing accesses” on Stratford Road.

We have approached Deeley Homes for comment.