PLANNERS in Wychavon have given the go-ahead to a new type of housing development near Droitwich, which will be the first of its kind in the county.

Rooftop Housing Group is building 10 affordable homes, as well as some private housing, allotments and a new village hall, all off Hawthorn Rise in Tibberton.

The unique scheme is being led by the Tibberton Community Land Trust, a charity made up of more than 100 local residents who are aiming to develop the new facilities for the benefit of the local community.

The residents have been directly involved in designing the layout and appearance of the homes, as well as the new village hall, through a series of public consultations, and homes on the development will be allocated to those with connections to the parish of Tibberton, in a bid to help local people continue to live in the area.

The project has been in progress for the past three years, and Wychavon is supporting the scheme by either gifting or leasing some of its land at a discounted cost to the Community Land Trust (CLT), while Tibberton Parish Council is also backing the development.

CLTs are increasingly being viewed as one possible solution to the nation’s housing shortage, and 170 of them have been formed in England and Wales over the last two years.

Planning permission was granted by Wychavon District Council’s planning committee on Thursday, September 17, although it is expected to take at least 18 months for the development to be completed.

David Campbell, chairman of Tibberton CLT, said: “This is an imaginative scheme which demonstrates what is possible by working together. Most other CLTs are limited to affordable housing but this goes much further than that with the creation of the new village hall and allotments.

“Our current village hall is 80 years old and belongs to a different era. The village has grown enormously since then and this will provide a modern building which will attract people to use it.”

Councillor Richard Morris, portfolio holder for economy and housing on Wychavon District Council, added: “Tackling the housing shortage requires us to be creative. This scheme not only delivers new affordable homes to meet the needs of local people, but the creation of the new village hall and allotments will deliver a much wider benefit for the whole community.”