FUTURE housing will continue to be centred around towns like Droitwich, according to recommendations from Wychavon District Council for the South Worcestershire Development Plan.

The three south Worcestershire district councils, Wychavon, Malvern and Worcester City, had been asked by Roger Clews, the inspector in charge of the development plan, to name potential new sites for housing development as part of the plan, which calls for an additional 6,200 dwellings in the south of the county.

500 housing sites were identified across the three councils, and they were assessed and checked for suitability with Wychavon choosing to cluster its sites around Droitwich Spa, Pershore and Evesham.

The council has chosen to veer away from villages which risk excessive development, and areas without the existing infrastructure to sustain development.

Councillor Judy Pearce, chair of the SWDP Joint Advisory Panel, said: “South Worcestershire has risen to the inspector’s challenge well and many suggestions came forward which gave plenty of options. Some of these proposed sites will now come forward to be looked at by the three councils. If agreed, these sites will be subject to public consultation and any representations received will be forwarded to the inspector. However, the Inspector will not be re-opening the consultation on sites previously proposed for allocation unless there has been a change, such as to the boundary or proposed number of houses on the site.”

The council has also recommended reducing the onus on Wychavon to meet Malvern Hills’s unmet housing need which now stands at approximately 350 dwellings, having reduced from 1,350.

A meeting is due to be held on September 30, where the three councils will need to agree to the proposals before a consultation can be launched on October 6. Responses will then be sent to the inspector who should hold a hearing in early 2015 to determine the final decisions.