A NEW blueprint for thousands of homes in South Worcestershire got the go-ahead from councillors at Wychavon this week, despite concerns one area had been "shafted".

On Tuesday night Wychavon District Council met in Pershore to discuss the new-look South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP), which earmarks land for 28,370 houses and jobs by 2030.

On the same night the latest plan, which includes 5,200 homes across the three districts, was endorsed by district councils in Worcester and Malvern.

The main changes in Wychavon include an extra 300 properties on fields along A4440 Swinesherd Way, near Spetchley Road in Worcester, an extra 95 new homes in Pershore, 36 properties opposite Horsebridge Avenue, Badsey, 50 homes between Leasowes Road and Laurels Road in Offenham and 39 properties in Stonebow Road, Drakes Broughton.

But despite no councillors at Wychavon voting against the plan and just three of the 34 voters abstaining, there was little good said about the way it had been handled by inspector Roger Clews, who vetoed the original plan last year.

The main concern in the chamber centred on the possible development off Swinesherd Way in Whittington parish.

Andrew Guy, a Whittington Parish Councillor, spoke against the plan asking councillors not to approve it.

"This is the last place development should be considered in Wychavon," he said. "Only two weeks ago was this sites possible inclusion for development made public.

"We have been mugged, we have been robbed blind."

His sentiments were echoed by ward councillor Rob Adams, who requested public consultation into the area to assess its suitability for development.

He asked why Wychavon had been made responsible for taking on board extra homes in Whittington, which he said would be soaked up by Worcester, and 300 for Malvern, after an alleged mistake in their figures resulted in a shortfall.

"I want to use the word shafted by the other councils," said Cllr Adams. "This has come about with no consultation. We would love that."

Other councillors said they sympathised with Cllr Adams and the residents of Whittington but added having a plan in place was better than having no plan.

Cllr John Smith said: "I feel I must support this recommendation with a heavy heart. I think Rob said the word that Whittington has been shafted and so has Evesham. But we are where we are.

"We need to find these homes and if we don't find them and provide the plan then every developer in the country will be coming forward with sites that are probably worse than what we have in the plan."

A six-week consultation will now start on Monday, October 6.

The new plan will then go back to Mr Clews who will examine it early next year, with a view to accepting it.