Development work is due to start next year on a major residential site in Worcestershire after the planning inspector granted permission for the scheme to go ahead.

An inquiry was held earlier this year to determine the fate of the project at Yew Tree Hill, in Droitwich, which will see 500 dwellings, a 200-unit care facility and a local centre.

The proposal had been promoted for more than five years on behalf of Stourbridge-based developer Barberry but it was refused planning permission by Wychavon District Council.

That decision was overturned by the Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles on appeal on the basis the council had no reasonable grounds for refusing the application.

The ruling also said the council had been unable to demonstrate a five-year local housing supply.

A related inquiry and appeal, covered by the same decision letter, gives Persimmon Homes outline permission for up to 265 properties on adjacent land.

Planning consultancy Harris Lamb presented at the inquiry on behalf of Barberry.

Director of planning Patrick Downes said: "We have all been working very hard on this case for a number of years and always believed this was an appropriate location for development.

"Our belief in the case has been fully justified and the decision clearly demonstrates the Government's intention to tackle the problems of housing supply and ensure the planning system plays its part in the economic recovery of the country.

"I am also delighted for Barberry who, together with other members of the consultancy team, worked very hard to bring this opportunity forward."

The decision letter said: "Overall, the secretary of state is satisfied that the adverse impacts of granting permission for both [schemes] would not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits when assessed against the framework taken as a whole, and he does not consider that there are any material considerations of sufficient weight to justify refusing planning permission for either scheme."

Coun Paul Middlebrough, leader of Wychavon District Council, said: "We are extremely dismayed with the decisions.....it does appear he has very little regard to the voices of our local communities in the planning system.

"Large scale developments are being imposed on our towns and villages in the district and this is taking place in many locations where the council would not normally approve development, especially where there are strong environmental or technical reasons against such development.

"The council, councillors, the town and parish councils and local residents all put forward arguments against these very large developments, which are in locations outside the South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP).

"We are going  through the extensive detail of the decision notices and looking at the implications.

"Since the inquiries took place, the inspector who is determining the SWDP, has set out the housing requirement very clearly and the council has worked hard to provide a five-year housing supply for the district.

"Over the last year over 850 housing units were approved by the council in sustainable locations in the district but these applications are in inappropriate locations. These unwelcome decisions will not affect our resolve to refuse poor development."

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