Appeal Inquiry

Appeal Inquiry: Land to the North of Droitwich Spa

Appeal Site: Land to the North of Droitwich Spa, Droitwich, WR9 0NU

Planning Inspectorate Reference: APP/H1840/W/22/3305934

A public inquiry is taking place in relation to a planning appeal for ‘Outline application for the erection of up to 102 dwellings, new vehicular and pedestrian access, and associated works. All matters reserved except for access.’ This is an appeal against the non-determination of the application.

About the public inquiry 

An inspector has been appointed by the Secretary of State and the appeal will be heard by way of a public inquiry. The Inquiry is to be held at the Wychavon District Council Chambers, The Civic Centre, Queen Elizabeth Dr, Pershore WR10 1PT. The inquiry will sit for up to 8 days, starting on the 13 December 2022 for the following sitting days (13-16 and 20-23 December 2022).

The inquiry is being held in person and anyone can visit to observe proceedings or to make their views about the application known to the inspector.

Interested parties can also view the livestream of the Inquiry on the Wychavon District YouTube channel. View YouTube page.

Case Management Conference

On 31 October 2022 the Planning Inspector appointed to hear this appeal on behalf of the Secretary of State held a case management conference with the representatives for the Council and the Appellant which took place virtually. No discussion took place on merits of the respective parties cases and no evidence was heard or submitted. The purpose of the conference was to set out a clear indication of the ongoing management of the appeals and the presentation of the evidence so that the forthcoming inquiry is conducted in the most efficient and effective manner.

pdf Case Management Conference summary note (137 KB)

Indicative Inquiry Programme

On 21 December 2022, the Inquiry will re-open at 11.00

Following the case management conference The Planning Inspector has set out an Indicative Inquiry Programme (this maybe subject to change).

pdf Read Indicative Inquiry Programme (106 KB)

Evidence Submitted to the Planning Inspectorate

The Council and the Appellants in these appeals have exchanged proofs of evidence that may be viewed here:

For the Appellant:           

• Proof of evidence by Mr Guy Wakefield relating to planning ( pdf G Wakefield Planning (891 KB) ) and appendices ( pdf G Wakefield Planning Appendices (2.19 MB) )
• Proof of evidence by Ms Joanna Ede relating to landscape and visual amenity ( pdf J Ede Landscape Proof (3.57 MB) ) and appendices ( pdf J Ede Appendices to Landscape Proof (3.01 MB) )
• Proof of evidence by Dr Jonathan Edis relating to heritage ( pdf J Edis Heritage Proof (390 KB) ) and appendices ( pdf J Edis Heritage Appendices (7.03 MB) )
• Proof of evidence by Mr Neil Tiley relating to housing ( pdf N Tiley housing proof (326 KB) ) and appendices ( pdf N Tiley housing appendices (113 KB) )

For the Council:

• Proof of evidence by Mr Paul Instone relating to planning ( pdf P Instone Planning (392 KB) )
• Proof of evidence by Mr Charles Potterton relating to landscape and visual amenity ( pdf C Potterton Landscape (1.18 MB) ) and appendices ( pdf C.Potterton Landscape Appendices A (8.44 MB)  and pdf C.Potterton Landscape Appendices B (6.69 MB) )
• Proof of evidence by Dr David Hickie relating to heritage ( pdf D Hickie Heritage (5.69 MB) ).

Core Documents

Below is the Core Documents Library. This includes all relevant documents (Core Documents pre-fixed CD) for the inquiry. This is currently a work in progress and will continue to be developed, updated, and populated in the run-up to the inquiry and may also be updated whilst the inquiry is sitting.

Not all documents relating to the application appear in the Core Documents Library, only the ones the Appellants and Council think might be referred to at the inquiry.  If the document you are looking for is not here then you will find it on the planning application search page (inserting application reference ‘22/00201/OUT’) that has further information about the application.

Core Documents List – Land north of Droitwich Spa, Droitwich (APP/H1840/W/22/3305934)

pdf List of core documents (206 KB)