PLANS to leave out a proposed primary school form a major development on the edge of Malvern have been slammed by the local parish council.

Developers Gleeson Developments Ltd and Welbeck Strategic Land LLP want to build up to 800 homes on land at Newland, beyond Malvern Link.

The developers made their application in 2015, with a revised version being put in earlier this month - which omitted the primary school which formed part of the original plan.

Now Newland Parish Council has responded to the revised plan, saying the school "must be reinstated as an essential and central part of the proposed development".

It says that with 800 homes, many of which may be occupied by families with young children, there will clearly be the demand for a new school.

The council's report says: "We understand that the surrounding schools are at capacity and that present projections of pupil numbers indicate no future capacity within a half hour walk to accommodate the numbers of children likely to be living on the proposed site.

"Attending the schools at Madresfield or Leigh Sinton would involve a walk of at least a mile along roads without footpaths or street lighting and would mean in the case of Madresfield crossing the A449 at peak times with small children and pushchairs.

"Attendance at St Matthias or Somers Park would mean crossing the Lower Howsell Road which will become busier, and the schools concerned are already full."

It says parents are likely to transport children to and from school by car, which would lead to some 500 extra car journeys each morning and evening.

The developer told the Malvern Gazette that the primary school was omitted at the request of Worcestershire County Council.

A county council spokesman said: "Land for the provision of a one-form entry primary school was included in the original planning proposals. The land is no longer required however, the local authority will work with the developer to secure developer contributions to ensure sufficiency of school places in the area."

"Given the infrastructure in the local area, the local authority's preferred option for this site will be to work with local schools to expand existing provision."