Housing

Worcester

Worcester

"It is important that we plan for Worcestershire. We need to show all options for development to include Worcester's growth as a sub-regional focal point."

Alwyn Davies, Deputy Leader, Worcestershire County Council.

Worcester is in the south west corner of the West Midlands occupying an enviable position just outside the Birmingham/Black Country conurbation in the heart of the beautiful countryside that inspired cultural icons such as Sir Edward Elgar and JRR Tolkien. Worcester has been identified as a sub-regional focal point for growth as part of the Regional Spatial Strategy for the West Midlands as it boasts good transport links and excellent prospects for further growth.

Local partners' ambitions for Worcester include:

  • residential growth to the order of 3800 homes by 2016 (with the exact target to be determined through the RSS revision process) 
  • a joint library and history centre, delivered in partnership with the University of Worcester
  • Parkway station to further improve rail links with Birmingham New Street and the rest of the country
  • a revolutionary public transport system that has already been nominated for national awards
  • a redeveloped river front linking the separate elements of the City Centre

In supporting Worcester as a New Growth Point, the Government is entering into a long-term partnership with the four authorities involved (Worcestershire County Council, Worcester City Council, Wychavon District Council and Malvern Hills District Council) recognising their ambitions for growth, subject to the statutory regional and local planning process.  Government has already provisionally allocated around £37m worth of PFI credits for the joint library and history centre, subject to HM Treasury approval, with Advantage West Midlands also contributing funding.

Levels of growth will be subject to comprehensive testing and public consultation through the regional and local planning processes to ensure that individual proposals are sustainable, acceptable environmentally and realistic in terms of infrastructure. For Worcester future work will include using the findings of a Strategic Flood Risk Assessment and a Water Cycle Study to inform decisions on the level and location of growth; working with Severn Trent Water to deliver water efficiency savings; producing a comprehensive Green Infrastructure Study to mitigate the impacts of growth on local habitats and enhance them where possible; and working with the Department for Transport to assess the impacts of growth proposals on the transport network and to develop sustainable transport solutions. 

Achieving these ambitions will depend on a range of public and private funding programmes, including developer contributions. Government is committing to work with local partners to achieve sustainable growth to get the best outcomes from this investment and to help overcome obstacles to delivery. In support of the growth ambitions for Worcester Government is allocating around £200,000 in 2007-08 from the first year's funding pot, subject to detailed negotiation and appraisal. Future funding is dependent upon the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review in 2007. 

For further information on proposals for Worcester please contact Mark Middleton at Worcestershire County Council on 01905 766720.

The aim of the three local planning authorities is to build around 3800 homes at Worcester by 2016, to include some cross boundary expansion into one or both of the adjoining districts of Wychavon and/or Malvern Hills.

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