A NEW footbridge linking the city to a new ‘super village’ is finally set to go before council planners after months of delays.

Council planners are expected to approve a new foot and cycle bridge across the now dualled Broomhall Way linking the city with a £500 million 2,204 home ‘super village’ which forms part of the South Worcester Urban Extension.

Plans were supposed to go before Worcestershire County Council’s planning committee in May but a decision was delayed for more work to be carried out on potential flooding in Power Park.

Worcester City Council and Malvern Hills District Council have both objected to the design of the bridge and said it should be of much higher quality.

Both authorities have urged the county council to reconsider the design before approving.

The footbridge was originally included in St Modwen’s planning application in 2013 but it was decided Worcestershire County Council would take over building the bridge with the developer covering the cost.

The bridge, which would be built between the Norton and Ketch roundabouts of the A4440, would cost around £3.5 million.

Malvern Hills District Council supports building the bridge, despite objecting to its design, and said it would make crossing a very busy dual carriageway safer and needs to be built as soon as possible.

The original footbridge plan submitted in January led to a number of objections - including the council’s flooding experts - and was withdrawn in May.

To combat flooding, a drainage system would be installed in Power Park as well as a wetland in the south-east corner. Paths would also be raised.

The park has a one in 30-year chance of flooding, according to a flooding assessment which accompanies the planning application.

If backed by the county council’s planning committee next Tuesday (July 9), work would be expected to start later this year and be finished by summer 2020.

A new hotel, shops, a primary school, health surgery and a sports centre are all included in Welbeck Land’s ‘super village’ plan.

St Modwen also plans to build 225 homes on land between Taylors Lane and Broomhall Way.