Court order puts roadblock on housing development

Work on a Droitwich housing scheme is being held up by a dispute about access to the development site.

Persimmon Homes have been blocked from selling any more homes until improvements are made to an access road.

A court order means that no more than 188 houses can be occupied before an agreement is made with the local highway authority.

The development has been the subject of several legal moves since the plans were initially submitted for the site it shares with Redrow.

Plans for the Yew Tree Hill development include up to 765 homes, a 200-bed care home and a mixed-use local centre.

Last February Persimmon and Wychavon District Council came to an agreement that no more than 90 properties could be occupied until Pulley Lane was widened and the junction with the A38 was improved. Persimmon unsuccessfully tried to get the ruling overturned twice since then, but a varying order now means it can have 188 properties occupied before the road works are completed.

A spokesman for Persimmon Homes South Midlands, said: “This is an important site for Persimmon Homes providing both open market and affordable housing which are desperately needed in the local area.

“The overall approval is for 265 homes however there is a legal requirement that no more than 188 can be occupied before agreement has been reached with the Local Highway Authority for a scheme of off-site works to improve a local road junction.

“We remain committed to rectifying this as soon as possible so work can continue on the build and the site can be completed.”

Gary Williams, Wychavon District Council’s head of planning told Droitwich Standard: “It is already on public record that Persimmon are unable to sell any further houses at the Yew Tree Hill site due to the requirements of a legal agreement that Persimmon accepted, which was brought into force on highway grounds.

“This remains in force until improvements to the A38 / Pulley Lane junction have been implemented.

“This does not prevent them from building more houses though or completing the development.”