'There's a monster coming': Residents speak out against new 10,000-home Midlands town
Residents opposed to plans for a new 10,000-home town say it’s time their voices were heard.
The Wychavon Town development will see 5,000 homes built on land surrounding Worcestershire Parkway railway station by 2041.
The scheme is backed by government housing agency Homes England as well as Wychavon District Council.
Developer Summix has submitted outline plans for two large parcels of land that will eventually become the town centre and several of the new town’s proposed residential neighbourhoods.
And a public consultation on the inclusion of the town in planning blueprints was held earlier this year.But residents of surrounding villages say no-one has actually asked them if they want a new town.
Greg Beachim, of Pirton, has gathered together a group of residents who are opposed to the development and has started a petition, which has more than 350 signatures at the time of writing.
"It feels like we are going into an arena in a loincloth, going up against the lions,” he said.
“This is the wrong project in the wrong place. It meets the agenda set out by the government but it’s not aligned to the reality of how we’re feeling.”
Plans submitted to the council show parks, schools, a “medical hub”, shops, leisure spaces and employment land will all be included as part of the development.
But the residents’ group says more infrastructure is needed including bypasses, GP surgeries, a hospital, and new sewerage systems to cope with the increase in population.
Richard Holmes, who lives in Wadborough, said: “People are just waking up to what’s happening.
"There’s a monster coming and everyone is deeply concerned.
“We understand the need for houses and Worcestershire needs to play its part but this is out of scale to the villages and rural communities that are already here.
“The theory is that active travel routes are being provided but the reality is that people will have cars.
“Villages will become rat runs between Evesham, Pershore and the M5 – why does the district council not see that?
“Local people will be left to deal with the consequences.”
Ian MacLeod, Wychavon’s director of planning and infrastructure, said: “Residents have had multiple opportunities to have their say on the principle of creating a new settlement around Worcestershire Parkway, have been encouraged to do so, and indeed, many have.”
He said it was first identified as a strategic site for a new town in 2018.“We have received thousands of comments during the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review (SWDPR) process, and that feedback has been considered as the plan has been developed.“
The principle of a new town around Worcestershire Parkway will be firmly established on the adoption of the SWDPR and has been scrutinised by independently appointed planning inspectors.“However, there are still plenty of opportunities to help shape and influence how Wychavon Town develops.“We have committed to engaging with residents in an open and timely way during the development of Wychavon Town and we encourage people to continue to talk to us so we can understand their concerns and address them where possible.”
The Local Democracy Reporting Service has asked developer Summix for comment.
