PLANS to build up to three homes on farmland in a Worcestershire village have been refused.

Developers had applied for planning permission in principle for land off Stonebow Road in Drakes Broughton.

And planning officers at Wychavon District Council had recommended the plans for approval.

But members of the council’s planning committee were unhappy with the proposal and the impact it would have on the village.

The committee, which met on Thursday, February 29, heard there are two public rights of way on the land that are well used by villagers and dog walkers.

The plans were also for land that is outside of the development boundary for the village.

Cllr Rob Adams said: “Why do developers see Drakes Broughton as a soft touch for planning? I just don’t know.

“We get a lot of applications for this area and we can’t do anything about it - it’s the system.”

Moving a motion to refuse the application, he added: “This isn’t a good location.”

Cllr Emma Sims said: “These green wedges are vitally important, especially as there has been such a lot of development in the village.”

Neighbours objected to the plans, pointing out that the site sits off a blind bend on Stonebow Road.

Janet Butterworth, of Drakes Broughton and Wadborough Parish Council, said there has been a large increase in the number of houses built in the village in recent years.

She said Drakes Broughton is a rural village and should have gaps between housing.

The parish council was also concerned about the cumulative impact of this and other proposals in the village, plus other large-scale housing developments nearby that are also at the planning stage.

“If all current applications are approved, this would result in a minimum of three new direct

accesses onto Stonebow Road, all near bends and the railway for a minimum of 82 homes,” it said in its consultation response.

Committee members voted unanimously to refuse the application, to cheers from members of the public in the council chamber at Pershore’s Civic Centre.