Residents have a final chance to have their say on the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review (SWDPR) before it is officially adopted.
A six-week public consultation runs from 6 January until 5pm on 17 February, 2026, to allow residents and other interested stakeholders to review proposed changes to the document put forward by Planning Inspectors.
One adopted, the SWDPR will guide housing and other development in Worcester, Malvern Hills and Worcester up to 2041.
Take part in the SWDPR Main Modifications consultation
Following a series of public hearings in 2025, inspectors recommended changes to the Plan – known as main modifications – to ensure it meets legal requirements and national planning policy.
The consultation will allow people to review and comment only on the modifications, raise any new issues specifically caused by the changes, or question the evidence base for a proposed alteration.
Some of the modifications strengthen policies for the major strategic sites. They include setting out the need for key infrastructure to be delivered at Wychavon Town (known in the Plan as Worcestershire Parkway) and for the proposed transport hub at Rushwick to be delivered to support wider development before the new railway station is built.
One of the most significant changes is the removal of Throckmorton as a proposed allocated site for housing and employment. This is now identified as an ‘area of search’, meaning more work is needed to demonstrate development is appropriate on the site. This land will be considered for allocation through the next review of the Plan.
All comments from the consultation will be sent directly to the inspectors, who will review them and then issue their final report, unless a significant issue has been raised that needs further consideration.
Once the final report has been received by inspectors, the SWDPR will go before Malvern Hills District, Worcester City and Wychavon councils for formal adoption. This is expected to take place in March. Once adopted, the Plan will strengthen planners' ability to resist inappropriate development.
Cllr David Harrison, Chair of the SWDPR Joint Advisory Panel, said: “This is the final step before adoption and at a time when many councils across the country are unable to progress to this stage, this represents a very significant moment for the SWDPR. I’d like to congratulate all the staff involved on their hard work to get to this point.
“I urge as many people as possible to review the changes and if there is anything you feel we, or the inspectors, have not fully considered to take the opportunity to have your say.”
