Homes plan will risk children's safety - council

The plan for the 95 homes has provoked criticism from local residents and Badsey Parish Council

Children's safety will be put at risk as they try to get to school if 95 new homes for Badsey village are approved, say councillors.

Badsey Parish councillors have also said the estate would lead to greater problems for surrounding roads, which are already congested with traffic.

Plans to build the homes off Birmingham Road will be voted on by Wychavon District Council's planning committee on Thursday, but there are also concerns the local school could not cope with more pupils.

Developer Bloor Homes says the development will address housing shortfalls in the area, with the site made up of several fields, covering almost six hectares (14.8 acre) of farmland.

However, the parish councillors say there would be "no safe walking or cycle route for children to get to school".

They also said the entrance to the site from Birmingham Road is on a busy route for lorries, making it difficult for residents to leave the site.

“How will pupils get to school? More car journeys would add to the already congested roads and centre of Badsey,” the councillors added.

They also said the site is in open countryside outside the built-up area of the village and would represent “urban sprawl rather than sustainable development”.

Family support service Worcestershire Children’s First has also objected to the scheme.

It said Badsey First School currently does not have enough capacity to cope extra children the development would bring.

'Other developments planned'

Worcestershire Highways said if the development was to go ahead, Bloor Homes should meet the costs of extending the 30mph limit section of Birmingham Road to include the entrance to the site.

The department said if all its conditions were met, the proposal would not exacerbate existing highway safety issues.

Other suggested improvements include a shared footpath and cycle path on the eastern side of Birmingham Road and a signal-controlled pedestrian crossing on Bretforton Road.

Developers pointed out there are other large housing developments in the works in Badsey.

Bloor is seeking outline planning permission with the vote on Thursday and, if it is approved, it will need to deliver more detailed plans to win the go-ahead before it can start construction.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.