WORCESTER MP Robin Walker has intervened over Middle Battenhall Farm - writing to the Secretary of State to insist it be protected.

The city's MP has contacted Greg Clark to make an impassioned plea over fighting Miller Homes' bid to develop 200 homes on the ancient beauty spot.

Last week Worcester City Council's planning committee voted to defend its case before a planning inspector, kick-starting a legal wrangle which could run for months.

The decision to defend the appeal ended up being forced through by the narrowest of margins, after the chairman Councillor Alan Amos used his casting vote.

As your Worcester News revealed earlier this year, the developer's bid comes despite the land being earmarked for green fields in the emerging South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP).

But that blueprint, which would protect it from unwanted development, has yet to be signed off by Government and it is likely an inspector will hold the appeal over Middle Battenhall Farm before it can be finalised.

Mr Walker said: "It's definitely the right decision to fight it, I applaud the council for doing that - what we all want to see is the SWDP brought in which wouldn't allow this to happen.

"There is a strong consensus for it not going ahead, and I'm relieved the planning committee voted the way it did.

"I've actually written to the Secretary of State to say there are very strong reasons for refusing this application and point out that there shouldn't be a case for it going ahead.

"We all want to see Middle Battenhall Farm protected and I've made that point."

The bill for whichever side loses the appeal could top £100,000.

Miller Homes has said it has "no other option" but to appeal following the council's failures to make a firm decision over the proposal, which has attracted more than 1,000 objections.

The company went to the national planning inspectorate on the grounds of 'non-determination' after a time limit for the planning committee to say yes or no expired.

A Miller Homes spokesman said: "Miller Homes believes that its outline proposals for development at this location would provide a high quality and sustainable contribution to meeting Worcester’s identified housing need."