ANGRY Stourport people have launched a fight against a “sham” planning application they fear is a first step towards converting farm land into a huge housing development.

Both Wyre Forest District and Malvern Hills District Council planners have received an application for the change of use for the keeping of horses and erection of stables for three horses on the 16 hectares of land off Areley Common, in Stourport – which falls under the two towns.

But Stourport councillor Jamie Shaw branded the submitted application a sham and said it was only being done to establish a change of use principle on the land.

He added that a similar tactic has been used on the controversial proposal by Gladman Developments to build 195 houses on countryside land off Lakes Road in Bewdley, which has also prompted strong protests.

Mairead Kiely, from consultancy Planning Prospects, who submitted the application was not available for comment as the Shuttle went to press.

But in the application, the proposal is described as stables providing accommodation, in the form of an “aesthetically-appealing” rural building for three horses which will be unobtrusive and in keeping with the area.

It states: “The application is appropriate to the setting of the site and surrounding area. The stables are of a sympathetic scale, form and massing and will be fabricated in appropriate materials.”

A leafleting campaign has started with people in both Stourport and Malvern Hills being urged to raise their objections to their respective council planners.

Councillor Shaw said: “The application is a sham. It is intended to establish the principle of “change of use” from its current agricultural status.

“Whether or not the stable block was built, at some point, an application to build houses would follow. There is already a lot of heavy machinery working on the site and this seems an awful lot of activity to create stables for three horses.

“The applicants have links to Gladman Developments who are already engaged in hostile applications for housing in Wyre Forest – such as in Bewdley which also began with an application for a change of use for stables.

“The land in question is not, and never has been, zoned for housing. It is 16 hectares in size which could see a lot of houses built there. But it is wholly inappropriate for the area, which does not have the infrastructure for such developments.”

Councillor Shaw warned a change in policy under the coalition Government and Malvern Hill District Council’s lack of official sites for housing development posed a real threat to that land.

He said: “When councils do not have a five year land supply for housing, it is now easier for developers to gain permission to build on land of their choosing.”

Anyone wishing to comment on the plan can contact Tom Cannon on 01562 732517, or by writing to him at Economic Prosperity and Place Directorate, Wyre Forest House, Finepoint Way, Kidderminster, DY11 7WF or email tom.cannon@wyreforestdc.gov.uk