A PROTEST group have urged people to have their say on a planning application to build 300 homes next to Tiddesley Wood.

An application for the demolition of existing farmhouse, agricultural buildings and structures, and the erection of a phased development of up to 300 residential homes was submitted on Monday, October 16.

Orchard Farm, Pershore, is next to the woodland area prompting the Protect Tiddesley Wood Group to urge residents to have their say on the planning application.

The application was submitted by Formula Land Ltd.

In June, almost 200 people took to Pershore's High Street to rally against a move to build on Orchard Farm.

The protest, organised by the 1,500-strong Protect Tiddesley Wood Facebook group, was held outside the Bank House.

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Cllr Charles Tucker, Wychavon District councillor for Pershore and Pershore Town councillor, previously condemned plans to build on the site and said he still has the same views on this latest application.

He said: "It is not needed by the town and what is far worse is the irreparable damage to the biodiversity Tiddesley Wood.

"It would make it very difficult for the town to meet its commitments to carbon neutrality and net zero, and it would be destroying a substantial amount of our biodiversity reserves for the town.

"Everyone has to be conscious of meeting net zero commitments and working to restoring nature. This development is against both of those things."

Cllr Dan Boatright-Greene, Worcestershire County Councillor for Pershore, said the homes will add increased pressure to services in the town.

He said: "We do not need this added strain on our GP surgery, our schools and our infrastructure. As always with these plans, my mind has never changed. 

"The town does not need these homes."

In 2022, campaigners celebrated when another homes plan for the land next to Tiddesley Wood was cut from 450 to 112 in the most recent draft of the South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP)

The plan sets out where thousands of new homes will be built across the south of the county in the next 20 years.

To visit the planning application, visit Wychavon District Council planning portal online.

Alternatively, email planning@wychavon.gov.uk quoting the planning reference W/23/02112/OUT.