The urban extension – located between the St Peter’s area of Worcester and Kempsey and near the villages of Norton and Whittington – will include 2,204 new homes, alongside a neighbourhood centre with a primary school, shops, care home, community facilities and business space.

The plans include a link to the area’s agricultural past, which will be maintained by focusing the local centre around the historic farm buildings of Middle Broomhall Farm and reintroducing orchards as well as allotments. 

A green infrastructure network will also connect the residential neighbourhoods to the countryside and include space for woodland and wetland habitats, recreation, sports and food production.

Due to the location and size of the scheme, Welbeck – alongside Savills’ Midlands planning team and Osborne Clarke LLP – worked to secure planning consent from three councils. 

“This was a challenging project which involved multiple landowners, three district councils and numerous stakeholders,” said Alistair Watson, managing director at Welbeck Strategic Land.

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“We are delighted that, after five years of planning negotiations and community engagement, members have resolved to grant consent. 

“Our strategic land promotion business goes from strength to strength and we have recently secured another £20m of institutional funding to promote land for housing in the South of England. 

“Our existing portfolio comprises circa 20,000 plots in over 50 locations.”

Michael Davies, planning director at Savills Birmingham, said approval for the scheme was the result of determination and working closely with planning officers.

“We believe that the scheme – a green suburb which will combine the best of town and country – will provide a welcome range of dwelling types for existing and future residents.

“The urban extension will bring with it a substantial contribution to the much-needed housing provision in south Worcestershire as well as significant economic benefits in terms of investment in a range of community facilities and major new infrastructure. 

“In addition to significant investment in a new southern link road, the area will also benefit from the new Worcestershire Parkway station, which is due to open in spring 2019 providing direct links to Birmingham and London.”