Huge new housing estate to ‘breathe new life’ into Worcestershire village

A huge new housing estate will help “breathe new life” into a Worcestershire village.

Wychavon District Council has given outline planning permission for up to 100 homes to be built at Wayside Caravan Park in Cleeve Prior.

The site in Evesham Road has historically been home to a number of gypsy and traveller families.

The application was approved by the council’s planning committee at a meeting on Thursday (May 23).

Ward member Hannah Robson described it as unusual, in that it has the support of residents, councillors, planning officers and the police.

“This land needs to be improved as it is an environmental health hazard the way that it is,” she told the committee.

“The option to develop it for housing would allow it to be cleaned up and provide much-needed housing in the right place.

“Cleeve Prior has seen very little housing growth in the last 20 years with just under a five percent increase – the smallest of any village within the ward by far.

“This development would help rejuvenate a dying village with an injection of people of all ages changing the demographic, another reason for more houses in the right place.

“The public rights of way around the development can be opened back up for people’s use and enjoyment.”

Planning officer Gavin Greenhow told councillors the site is “widely accepted to be in very poor condition”, adding: “It’s been used for dumping rubbish for a number of years.”

Cllr Mary Smith, of Cleeve Prior Parish Council, said the development will breathe new life into the village.

She told members of the planning committee: “If you approve this application, you will be helping Cleeve Prior to move in the right direction.”

In response to the planning application Sarah Laughlin, the headteacher at Cleeve Prior CE Primary, said she hoped the homes would be built so that new children could be found for the undersubscribed school.

The school had just 21 pupils but a capacity of 90.

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