A DECISION on the planned development of Droitwich Spa’s former Army Medals Office site has been taken out of Wychavon District Council’s hands.

Developers Bovis Homes has appealed against a decision by the authority’s planning committee to reject a proposal for 64 dwellings at land off Worcester Road.

An inspector has now been appointed to make a decision on if the scheme can go ahead at a hearing on Tuesday, May 15.

The application had previously been rejected in January on a number of different issues. There were concerns about the amount of private amenity space available to residents and that some planned gardens were not of sufficient size.

Wychavon’s planning chiefs also raised an issue with the size of the affordable housing units and felt that the authority’s planning guidance had been contradicted.

A spokesman from Wychavon District Council said: “The refusal reasons are limited to eight of the 64 proposed plots. Rather than redesign a small element of the scheme to address the council's concerns, the applicant has chosen to lodge an appeal to the Secretary of State who has appointed an independent Inspector to reside over an informal hearing due to be heard on May 15.”

The planning application file and appeal document can be viewed at wychavon.gov.uk/cms/default.aspx by entering the planning reference number W/11/02289/RM.