A controversial ‘business park’ which includes a Sainsbury’s and Costa Coffee will be built next to a new estate after plans were given the green light by councillors.

Wychavon District Council’s planning committee approved the plans for the Copcut Rise estate in Droitwich which includes a new Sainsbury’s supermarket, Costa Coffee drive-thru, two industrial units, more than 130 parking spaces and eight electric vehicle charging points.

The contentious decision came despite warnings it would turn part of the estate into a ‘roadside service station’ bringing misery and extra pollution to hundreds of households.

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The plans for the land between Roman Way and Copcut Boulevard were derided by residents with more than 140 objections lodged with the district council ahead of the decision being made – with many saying they would not have bought a home nearby if they knew about the plans for the Copcut Business Park.

Hindlip, Martin Hussingtree and Salwarpe Parish Council said the new Sainsbury’s supermarket could prove to be useful for ‘basic, day-to-day needs’ but the remaining facilities would be of “little benefit” and cause ‘24/7 traffic and nuisance’ for people who have recently moved into their new homes.

Cllr Daniel Birch called the decision “damaging” and said it was “entirely improper” for the council to turn their backs on people that had been sold a home that promised a “peaceful and countryside location surrounded by natural beauty.”

Cllr Birch said the damage from building the units would be “long-lasting” and the application needed to be rejected for “the sake of the community.”

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“In no way do grey industrial units compliment the area, nor do they fit in,” he said at the planning committee meeting in Pershore on July 20. “Copcut Rise is a traditionally designed housing development in a rural parish, it is in no way complimentary.”

Cllr Birch said ‘grey’ was mentioned seven times in the application and it would take ten to 15 years for the units to be masked by trees.

“There is no way that two warehouse units positioned metres away from residential properties will not be overbearing,” he said.

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The new Copcut Rise estate off Roman Way in Droitwich is made up of more than 740 homes and was first approved by council planners a decade ago.

The committee first voted on whether to reject the plan, which was lost, and then agreed to the plan by seven votes to three and three abstentions.    

The original planning permission from 2013 included space for a neighbourhood centre which included, shops, community facilities, an emergency services post and land for employment to accompany the homes.

Then, after the majority of the homes had been built, a planning application was revealed in 2022 that merged the neighbourhood centre with the employment land and relocated it from the centre of the new estate to its edge on empty land alongside Roman Way.