RESIDENTS and ramblers are up in arms after plans to build more than 20 homes in a Worcestershire village were revealed.

The plans, which are only outline meaning that layout, appearance, scale and landscaping would need to be considered in a future application, would see 22 homes built on land to the north of Valefresco's agricultural buildings of Laurels Road. 

The homes would be 40% affordable and 60% market housing and range from one bedroom to four bedroom to reflect the local housing needs. 

The site is currently used as farmland however does contain some commercial greenhouses. 

The plans have currently had a negative response from the community including The Worcestershire Ramblers Association. 

In an email from the head office, the group said: "The Ramblers Association is very concerned about this proposal.

"The existence of a public footpath straight through the site seems to have been largely disregarded, and only put on a provisional layout sketch as a minimal afterthought.

"Path 520, despite being a more heavily used B category path, and indeed scheduled for inclusion in the next Evesham walking festival, doesn't even get a mention.

"Thus the application should be rejected immediately and not considered until all the necessary documents are amended to make clear where the paths are and what the proposers intend for them. 

"We feel this is a lost opportunity to protect and enhance the paths in the vicinity, and would be happy to engage in discussions to this end, but it is not acceptable to quietly ignore the network when inconvenient."

The plans have received a largely negative response from residents who say that more houses would ruin the village feel and also noted concerns about traffic. 

Jane Moore, a resident of Offenham, said: "Having another housing estate on Laurels Road is going to be a nightmare with traffic.

"It is bad enough getting out of our drive.

"I strongly object to this application."

Another resident, Stephanie Waters, said: "I'm objecting as Offenham is already getting over crowded as a small village, it's a dead end village, laurels road already has heavy traffic and young children walk this road with speeding cars.

"It's taking away the small village community."

The plans have been submitted by V S Pilade.