CONTROVERSIAL plans for 80 new homes in a village just outside Worcester can today be revealed.

Developers have targeted five acres of agricultural fields in Hallow in a move which would expand the number of properties in the village by 18 per cent.

But the bid has angered residents, who say Hallow will be "unable to cope" with such a rise in its population.

Glasgow-based Mctaggart & Mickel Homes wants to develop fields behind Orchard Close, which is off the Hallow Main Road.

An outline planning application has been submitted to Malvern Hills District Council for 80 properties, with the developer saying a children's play area, two new open public spaces and extensive tree planting would come as part of the package alongside one, two, three and four bed homes.

But the bid is already causing objections in the village, with nearby residents saying it would increase congestion, put pressure on Hallow Primary School and rip up green fields.

It is still out for public consultation until this coming Wednesday, with the district council expected to make a decision before Christmas.

Resident John Brereton, of Main Road, one of more than 30 people to object to the developer's agent in recent weeks, said: "It seems such a wicked thing to take a field of arable land and just plump all these houses on there.

"It's been used to grow raspberries, corn and barley and keep sheep - perfectly good fields for food production that will be lost.

"Then there's all the traffic coming in and out. It's ridiculous."

Five nearby householders have sent written objections the district council since the start of September, calling for it to be rejected.

Many say they fear Hallow, which only has 450 homes at the moment, becoming too urbanised.

Resident June Woodland, of Main Road, said: "This type of development will totally alter the character of the village.

"In fact it will no longer be like living in a village, it will make Hallow appear to be just another suburb of Worcester with all the urbanisation that entails."

The developer is planning to hand £368,000 to the district council to improve village amenities, and is planing to make 40 per cent of the entire plot affordable homes.

It has also instructed consultancy firm Colliers International to liaise with the public and produce a report addressing any concerns.

The document says the developer will "respect the character of the village" and provide much-needed housing, a lot of which will be aimed at families.

It also says traffic modelling estimates only one extra car a minute will use Hallow Main Road during peak rush-hour periods, not enough to cause "significant delays".

The supporting documents also say it will allow the school to have all its intake from the village, rather than take some from other areas, reducing some of the existing traffic into Hallow.

Ken Hopkins, strategic land manager for Mactaggart & Mickel Homes said: “We are supporting the South Worcestershire Development Plan by submitting outline planning for land north of Orchard Close in Hallow which has been earmarked for residential development.

“The planning application process is in its early stages but the proposed development includes 78 family homes, including affordable homes, new pedestrian and vehicular access from the A443 and open community space and play areas.”