PLANS have been lodged for 41 affordable homes on green belt land in Hartlebury.
A full planning application has been submitted to Wychavon District Council for the homes to be built on land at Old Worcester Road.
As well as the 41 homes, new pedestrian and vehicle access would be created from Worcester Road.
A new public open space would also be created.
Foster, Green + Brown Limited has submitted the bid to develop the 1.84 hectare site along with Owl Partnerships Limited.
Planners have proposed a mix of 12 two-bedroom, 25 three-bedroom and four four-bedroom homes be built.
The site falls within the green belt but is not within a designated conservation area.
However, planners argue that the development site qualifies as Grey Belt.
Grey belt land is Green Belt land that has been previously developed or does not strongly contribute to key Green Belt purposes.
Planning documents say: “There is a significant shortfall in affordable housing in Wychavon and specifically in Hartlebury, with more than 2,600 households on the Council’s Housing Register in June 2025 of which 468 specified Hartlebury as the preferred location of choice.
“In total, 96 affordable homes were delivered in Wychavon in the 2024 monitoring year, the lowest number in the past 10 monitoring years.
“This will no doubt contribute further to the long waiting times for affordable homes, which range from 18 months to more than two years, depending on the number of bedrooms.
“The development will provide significant benefits that significantly and demonstrably outweigh any harms that would arise from the development.
“Whilst the Site falls within the open countryside by virtue of being outside any Development Boundary defined in the South Worcestershire Development Plan, due to the Council’s shortfall in housing land supply, planning permission should be granted.”
A public consultation on the plans will take place until April 25.
Visit the planning portal on wychavon.gov.uk and search for application reference W/26/00631/FUL to have your say.
