Homes rejected over serious safety concerns

A plan to build new homes next to a ‘rat run’ has been turned down by the council over ‘severe safety concerns.’

The move to build up to nine homes on the land off Crown East Lane in Lower Broadheath – just over a mile from Worcester – was rejected by Malvern Hills District Council over fears that the lack of footpaths and streetlights meant the road would be dangerous for pedestrians, cyclists and those without a car.

Highways officers at Worcestershire County Council said the dark ‘rat run’ would pose a dangerous threat and planners in Malvern said the application did not do enough to encourage people to travel without a car.

Only last week, a city Cubs group was criticised by furious parents who feared their children could have died after they were found wandering along the busy and “dangerous” Crown East Lane between their scout hut near St Thomas Church to Elgar’s Birthplace.

“There is a severe safety concern of conflict between pedestrians and vehicles on Crown East Lane and Bell Lane especially in the hours of darkness and inclement weather,” highways officers said.

“Walking and cycling to and from the site to local services would be extremely difficult and would be especially difficult for the young, the elderly and those with mobility issues.”

The mix of two-to-four-bed homes would have been built alongside a new entrance off Crown East Lane according to the plans by Mr W Tutchings.

A separate ‘permission in principle’ plan by LLP Developments would see up to four homes built on land off Crown East Lane and Laylocks Lane – around 300 metres away from the nine-home plan.

Lower Broadheath Parish Council objected to the LLP Developments plan saying that four homes were too many for the land and were not needed to meet demand in the area.

Thousands of homes are set to be built in the area in the coming years as part of several developments dubbed the ‘West of Worcester Urban Extension.’

The ‘extension’ of the city would see more than 2,300 homes built between Dines Green and St John’s in Worcester and Lower Broadheath.

Major developer Bloor Homes will be building up to 1,400 homes with Taylor Wimpey building 483 homes and Redrow building 439 homes.

Once completed, the huge new development could also include a new community centre, primary school, GP surgery and care home as well as shops, pubs and restaurants and sports and leisure facilities.