PLANS for a major development of 81 homes on the eastern edge of Malvern are set to be approved in the face of opposition from local residents.

P E Duncliff/Lioncourt homes made the application to build the homes, including 32 affordable ones, on land off Brook Farm Drive in the Poolbrook area of the town.

The site, which is currently open land, is earmarked for housing development in the South Worcestershire Development Plan.

At Wednesday's meeting of Malvern Hills District Council's southern area development control committee, Graham Hughes, representing fellow Brook Farm Drive residents, spoke of their fears about increased traffic on the estate and existing bungalows being overlooked by the new homes.

He said the proposed access off Brook Farm Drive was not big enough, and there should be another access off Meadowsweet Court.

He said "I hope the councillors can make a decision which is in the best interests of the electorate, not of the developers."

But councillors said that because of the land's allocation for housing in the development plan, they had little choice but to approve it.

Cllr Melanie Baker said: "The application to have this land included for development was widely and deeply scrutinised during the hearings before it went into the SWDP."

There were also concerned about the lack of play facilities in the new development, but Coun Baker said: "There is a beautiful play area that Malvern Town Council manages very well and that lots of children use right next to the site."

Other concerns included the proximity to the town sewage works and the impact on wildlife living on the site.

Members agreed that approval of the plan should be delegated to planning officers, subject to satisfactory reports on the biodiversity of the site and a section 106 agreement stipulating a financial contribution form the developers to pay for local community facilities.