Housing & Residential: East Midlands Four Midlands countryside sites earmarked for massive development October 4th, 2022 Mya Driver Rural areas across Malvern, Worcester, Wychavon and more could be transformed in the coming years.As well as houses being built, these target areas would also gain new schools, community facilities, railway stations and more. With more and more people looking to escape the city and move to the countryside, here’s a look at which sites in Worcestershire could soon see major development over the next few decades.1) Worcestershire ParkwayLand at Worcestershire Parkway, near Worcester, could potentially be transformed into one of two new towns proposed by the revised South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP). The first phase of the SWDP would see 5,000 homes built on the site during the next 20 years before another 5,000 are built during the second phase past 2041 – bringing the total to 10,000.According to the plan’s documents, a main town centre, several schools, GP services, a leisure centre, an emergency services department, traveller sites and more will also be built as part of the development. It continues: “The settlement will be developed to form a distinctive townscape and outstanding accessible landscape, which will be influenced by the historic character of the area“Community assets such as parks, community centres and public transport are vital elements of high-quality, attractive places and are important when developing a new settlement such as Worcestershire Parkway. Its location within 3km of Worcester makes it a good area to meet some of the city’s and sub-region’s unmet housing and employment needs.”The plan states that two secondary schools, seven primary schools including nursery provision and one special educational needs school will be built to accompany the new houses. It will also be carbon neutral and powered through renewable energy.2) ThrockmortonAnother new town could be built in the village of Throckmorton, which is tucked away in the countryside of the Wychavon district near Pershore. The first phase of the plan, from 2030 to 2041, ) will deliver around 2,000 homes as well as schools, sports facilities, community halls and medical facilities.The South Worcestershire Development Plan states: “It is anticipated that in phase two (beyond 2041) an additional 3,000 dwellings (total of 5,000) will be delivered, which would generate the need for additional educational provision, plus the balance of employment land and additional supporting services and community facilities.“Throckmorton Airfield is the former RAF Pershore site which is now in a range of employment uses with several different businesses operating from the site. The airfield includes five hangars, a control tower and a series of runways and concrete hard standings separated with significant amounts of open space.“It is envisaged that the former airfield itself will form the new local / town centre of the new settlement.”Like Worcestershire Parkway, the town would be carbon neutral and powered through renewable energy while jobs would be created in a new 120-acre business and employment park just off Junction 7 of the M5.Pershore train station would be expanded too, with a second platform, new bridge and a 500-space car park built.3) Newland, MalvernLand in north east Malvern, near the village of Malvern, could also soon be developed with the SWDP proposing 800 new homes, a new community hall, cycle routes and new shopping facilities. The plan states: “The main objective of the urban extension to Malvern will be to create a new neighbourhood.“The neighbourhood will be in the form of a highly sustainable development designed to complement the important landscape setting of the area and enhance its location as a gateway to Malvern, allowing, wherever possible, long-distance views of the Malvern Hills for residents and passers-by.”4) Rushwick, MalvernThe South Worcestershire Development Plan also includes proposals to expand the village of Rushwick in the Malvern Hills by building 1,000 new homes, a new railway station, a new primary school and other community facilities. The plan states: “Being well located for access to employment and services in Worcester and opportunities to link to an existing public transport corridor, the expansion of Rushwick would promote sustainable development.“The vision for Rushwick is that any new development at Rushwick should be of a high quality, that Rushwick will continue to be a community that residents feel a part of and want to live in, and that Rushwick maintains its identity as a village separate from Worcester. Worcestershire County Council concluded that a new station at Rushwick is feasible from an engineering perspective, would be viable and would generally be supported by the rail industry.“The railway station will provide a transport hub, bringing together public transport (rail and buses), pedestrian and cycle links, and a car park for up to 500 vehicles.”