Crossland Cottage Newland Common Road Salwarpe Droitwich Spa WR9 7JE

1. 1.The application site lies within the Green Belt. The proposal seeks Permission in Principle for the erection of up to 4 dwellings on an undeveloped parcel of land. The Local Planning Authority does not consider that the proposal falls within any of the exceptions to inappropriate development set out in paragraph 154 of the National Planning Policy Framework. In particular, the proposal would not amount to limited infilling, as the site does not read as a small, contained gap within a continuous built-up frontage, but instead forms a distinct parcel of land which is experienced as part of the wooded and semi-rural edge of the settlement. The proposal therefore constitutes inappropriate development in the Green Belt which is harmful by definition. In addition, the development would, by reason of the introduction of built form and associated domestic development, reduce the openness of the Green Belt and result in the domestication of an undeveloped parcel of land. No very special circumstances have been advanced which would clearly outweigh the harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness and loss of openness, and the other harm identified. The proposal is therefore contrary to Policy SWDPR04 of the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review and the relevant aims and objectives of the National Planning Policy Framework.
2. 2.The application site lies outside of the defined development boundary of Droitwich Spa and is therefore located within the open countryside, where development is strictly controlled under Policy SWDPR03 of the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review. Notwithstanding the site’s relative proximity to the built form of Droitwich Spa, future occupiers would not be able to access the urban area in a safe or convenient manner on foot due to the absence of any roadside footpaths, street lighting or substantial grass verges on the routes between the site and the settlement, together with the surrounding highway network including roads subject to the national speed limit. Future occupiers would therefore be heavily reliant on the private motor vehicle in order to access day-to-day services, facilities, employment opportunities and public transport. The proposal would therefore represent residential development in an inappropriate and unsustainable location, contrary to Policy SWDPR03, in particular Parts D and E, of the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review and the relevant aims and objectives of the National Planning Policy Framework.
3. 3.The application site comprises an undeveloped parcel of land beyond the defined development boundary at the junction of Newland Common Road and Pulley Lane, which is experienced as part of the countryside edge and the transitional space between the urban area of Droitwich Spa and the surrounding rural landscape. The site falls within the Principal Timbered Farmlands landscape type, and more specifically Land Cover Parcel MW111 Hindlip Principal Timbered Farmlands, where filtered views, substantial vegetation, winding lanes and a dispersed settlement pattern are important defining characteristics. By reason of the proposed use of the land for up to 4 dwellings, and the amount of development proposed in this location, the development would result in the domestication and suburbanisation of an undeveloped parcel of land, representing an inappropriate and harmful encroachment of residential development into the wooded and semi-rural fringe of the settlement. The proposal would fail to respond appropriately to the character of the site and its surroundings and would harm the character and appearance of the site and its wider landscape setting, contrary to Policies SWDPR03, SWDPR16, SWDPR28 and SWDPR34 of the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review and the relevant aims and objectives of the National Planning Policy Framework.

From the council's decision notice.

Postcode

WR9 7JE

Application type

Permission in Principle

Scale / size

Small

Parish

Salwarpe

Date validated

23 February 2026

Consultation expiry

1 April 2026

Consultation start

23 February 2026

Consultation end

1 April 2026

Agent address

AddisonRees Planning Consultancy Ltd Open Space Chequers Close Enigma Park Malvern WR14 1GP

Documents

11