The three Councils involved in the plans to manage the growth of South Worcestershire have welcomed the recent media reporting about the subject and the interest it has generated among the public.

For all those involved in planning for the growth at Malvern Hills , Wychavon and Worcester, the debate is very exciting and they want to do all they can to encourage it to continue. They feel that the response to the stories in the press and on the radio has been largely positive. The message coming through is that people care about their locality and that they are interested in how their area develops.

As part of the ongoing debate about the future of South Worcestershire a series of public consultation exercises will be staged from early November into December with the aim of engaging with all sections of the community. The local authorities will also be embarking on a major publicity campaign including radio and press adverts and an online consultation system.

Worcester City Councillor , Robert Rowden, Chairman of the Joint Advisory Panel said “There are three Councils working on this together and I know that my colleagues at Wychavon and Malvern Hills are with me in believing that a joined-up approach is the only one that is going to be effective in the long run. It is imperative that we keep communicating, keep consulting and keep listening.”

Although much of the debate has understandably focussed around housing, the issue is much wider than that. For example, there will be a need to ensure that appropriate levels of employment development and community facilities will be in place as well as safeguards for the environment. Councillor Rowden went on to say “We will also need to ensure that the provision of decent infrastructure is part of the plans right from the start. The government guidelines are that up to 32,000 new homes should be built in the south of the county by 2026. Without going through a comprehensive consultation exercise there is the threat of development being imposed on South Worcestershire rather than us planning for it. Development, carried out with sensitivity, can be sustainable and economically and socially beneficial to our existing communities. I also want to assure everyone in the three districts that nothing has yet been set in stone and your views would be welcomed”.

To find out more about the South Worcestershire Joint Core Strategy please visit www.swjcs.org