BUILDING 19 new homes in Powick would cause nearby traffic lights to become ‘the busiest set in the county’ due to the extra motorists using the road, a councillor has said.

Powick parish councillors met for a planning committee meeting at Callow End Village Hall on Wednesday to discuss matters surrounding a proposal to build the homes on land at the south of the Crown Inn in Malvern Road, which is located near to traffic lights in Hospital Lane.

The application, which is for two-storey properties, received outline planning approval on October 1, 2015. Reserve matters still to be approved include details of the development’s appearance, scale, layout and landscaping.

Commenting on the application, Councillor Jim Allsopp, planning vice-chairman, said: “It is going to be the busiest set of traffic lights in the county by the time it is finished.”

He added: “We have to remember we are not being asked to comment on the actual application but the reserve matters.

“14 out of 19 is quite a high proportion of affordable housing.”

The application states that the homes will use the existing Crown pub access onto Hospital Road with some alterations.

Councillor Diane Jones said: “My only worry is the accommodation access.”

Councillor Mike Richmond added: “It is right over the traffic lights so you’ll get a lot of traffic waiting. Can we make traffic light sequencing a point?You will get a lot of traffic going through there.”

Parish council chairman Councillor Andrew Lamb, who called the development “cramped”, queried whether it was subject to a Section 106 agreement where the developer has to pay for infrastructure improvements in the vicinity.

He said: “It is very unclear. It is the usual problem: some we support, some we don’t, and we are not getting any advantage.”

According to the application, the site is subject to a S106 agreement to provide eight affordable housing dwellings, 75 per cent of which should be at social rented levels and 25 per cent of which should be fixed equity sold at 70 per cent of the open market value.

The application for full permission is currently pending a decision by Malvern Hills District Council. Residents and concerned parties have until Thursday, June 21 to make a comment.