A COMPROMISE has finally been reached between councillors and developers wanting to build homes on the outskirts of Worcester.

Hallam Land Management has now been given approval to build a new estate at Earls Court Farm, off Bromyard Road, Dines Green.

Previously, Worcester City Council had refused permission, demanding the developer make 40 per cent of the homes affordable - not 30 per cent as proposed. But now Hallam Land Management has agreed to the 40 per cent level, in return for the number of homes being increased from 187 to 214.

Before this decision, Hallam Land Management had lodged an appeal with the planning inspectorate.

Councillor Paul Denham said: "I'm delighted to see this application meets our previous request. It's a pity that the developer did not come back to us with this when we first deferred this application. The previous application could have then been approved some time ago without the need to go to appeal."

Despite the planning committee's approval of the new application, the previous refusal will still go to appeal as the process has begun. However, the city council is not planning to send anyone to speak on behalf of the council given its latest decision. The plan for homes at Earls Court Farm has provoked much controversy, with Earls Court Farm Residents' Action Group expressing concerns about flooding.

Speaking at Thursday's meeting David Westaway, chairman of the action group, said: "An extract from the Worcester Evening News in June 1955 said 10 houses flooded on Dines Green. This has repeated itself this year, with properties on Tudor Way and several gardens once again being flooded. We find it quite unacceptable to increase the number of proposed dwellings by 27 to an already overpopulated plan."

The committee was told the Environment Agency had no objections to the scheme but had proposed a number of conditions to deal with flooding concerns.

The development would take up five of the 11 hectares on the site, which is earmarked for housing in the local plan.