ANGRY residents in the Warndon Villages area of Worcester have hit out at plans by a Spetchley business company to build a new 2,915sq m headquarters on land near a 900-year-old grade one-listed church.

GTech, which makes vacuum cleaners, power tools and other appliances, has applied to build a new £5 million office, research facility and storage space at land off the junction of Berkeley Way and Parsonage Way.

But residents living near the proposed site have reacted to the plans with dismay, saying the site is not included in the South Worcestershire Development Plan and would have a damaging impact on the nearby St Nicholas Church and wildlife in the area.

In a joint statement Rachel and David Pryke, who live at the grade two-listed Warndon Court next to St Nicholas Church, thought to be Worcestershire’s earliest brick building, said the development would “destroy” the environment of the area.

“We are all just temporary guardians of this ancient ecosystem,” they said.

“Planning rules are supposed to be there to protect this so I hope all local people will lodge their objections with Worcester planning department before we find that Warndon Villages has just become one big car park for the industrial take-over that this proposal signifies.”

Residents are due to meet to discuss their concerns at St Nicholas Church at 11.30am on Sunday.

Vicar at St Nicholas, Rev Diane Cooksey, said she was concerned about the impact on the 900-year-old church and Warndon Court, both of which are situated on a sacred mound.

“They are all that remain of an area that has completely changed over the last 25 years,” she said.

“The land between them and Berkeley Way provides a buffer zone against traffic noise and pollution.

“It is in keeping with the area that immediately surrounds the church and it would certainly have an impact on the local environment and wildlife if it were lost.”

But GTech founder and chief executive Nick Gray said he understood residents’ concerns and wanted to ensure them the development — which includes provision to ensure the view of St Nicholas Church was not obscured, maintain a ten-metre strip of woodland and add three new ponds — would improve rather than damage the area.

“I am a local person and a father-of-four who shares that concern,” he said.

“I have a strong commitment to preserve our countryside and safeguard the area, while hopefully developing its commercial potential for present and future generations to thrive within.”

He added he was confident the new development would protect neighbouring homes from being exposed to further industrialisation.

“Local people built GTech and we are committed to remaining local, and supporting our employees who’ve worked so hard to build the company,” he said.

Although residents have said they are also dismayed they have only been given until Monday, March 2, to respond to the public consultation, a Worcester City Council spokesman said any representations sent to the authority’s planning department after this date would still be taken into account.

To view the plans click here and search for application P15P0013.

A decision on the plans is expected to be made by Wednesday, April 22.