Outline plans for 250 homes approved in Kidderminster

Plans for a major regeneration project in Kidderminster which will include up to 250 new homes, shops and industry has been approved.

The outline proposal for the site of the former British Sugar factory will create 400 jobs when it is finished. Wyre Forest District Council's planning committee unanimously backed the plan.

The proposal, put forward by the St Francis Group, is for the new homes, a hotel, railway station, business units, restaurant and care home on the Stourport Road site.

It would replace disused land last used for industrial purposes in 2002.

The scheme has already had support from the government, which has alloctaed £2.5million toward a link road at the 67-acre site.

Councillor Marcus Hart welcomed the plan.

He said: "Residents have been asking for a long time what we are going to do about this site, well this could be the answer.

"This is at the heart of our town's regeneration.

"There are things in the application which are not quite perfect, but overall I am delighted to support it."

Support was given from every councillor, although there was some concern about the number of affordable homes proposed.

The national guideline for a new development is 30 per cent of the new homes should be affordable, but St Francis Group has proposed 12 per cent for the site due to financial constraints.

Concerns were also raised about access to the site, which would be from two junctions on Stourport Road.

But under the outline plan a railway halt could be created for the Severn Valley Railway and potentially be linked up to the national rail network.

Planning officer Julia Mellor said the applicant, which will next submit a full planning application.

By Alex Ross