A GIANT greenhouse could be built in Fladbury if Wychavon’s decision to refuse the plans is overturned on appeal in January.

A planning inquiry into an application from Springhill Nurseries to create a 48,000 sq metre greenhouse on Salters Lane will take place at Wychavon Civic Centre, Pershore, on January 6 and 7 from 10am.

The plans have already been rejected on two occasions by Wychavon District Council’s development control committee due to its size, appearance and it being out of character and unsympathetic to the area.

Residents are staunchly against the greenhouse plans and fully support the reasons for rejection. Lower Moor villager Ed Cohen believes the development will cause additional surface water run-off into Lower Moor, near Fladbury, causing flooding.

Mr Cohen said: “The drains were overwhelmed by surface water run-off in 1998 and 2007 and 45 properties flooded.

“This issue was highlighted again this weekend when 10cm of rain fell on Friday and Saturday causing extensive flooding of the A44 between Fladbury and Lower Moor.”

The greenhouse would be used for tomato production and the application also includes an office, toilet, holding area, staff canteen, a reservoir and mobile homes for agricultural workers. Mr Cohen added: “These tomatoes could be grown on a brownfield site.

“They do not need to be grown in a greenhouse that takes 20 acres of prime agricultural land out of production.

“This is a trojan horse plan. If allowed on appeal we will have another creeping industrial development and in 15 to 20 years all the land between Lower Moor and Fladbury could be filled with industrial growing and packing agricultural units.”

Anyone with an interest in the application can attend the planning inquiry.

You can find out more about the plans by visiting wychavon.gov.uk and clicking on the planning applications section.