A NEW six-week consultation has launched over the county’s controversial housing blueprint – in what is widely expected to be your ever last chance to have a say.

The South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP), which earmarks land for 28,370 homes across Worcester, Malvern and Wychavon by 2030, is open for public comments until Friday, November 20.

The latest consultation, which we first revealed was likely last week, focuses only on some recent last-ditch alterations and not any unchanged sites.

Some housing sites have been removed from the plan including the old playing fields in Green Lane, Malvern and a number of small plots in Worcester including Claines Recreation Ground.

Some other locations have had changes proposed to their housing numbers including a reduction from 200 to 190 at the Crown Packaging site in Worcester and an increase from 596 to 750 at Worcester’s Shrub Hill opportunity zone off Sherriff Street.

Many other sites, such as the old Defra offices off Worcester’s Whittington Road pictured above, are unchanged.

That 19-acre site has been bought by developer St Modern Modwen and is earmarked for a mix of new homes and offices.

The hope is that independent planning inspector Roger Clews will be able to sign the document off later this year, bringing the process towards a conclusion.

As long as Mr Clews is satisfied with the feedback district councils in all three areas will then be asked to have one final vote each, bringing the process to a finish.

As we revealed earlier this year, the SWDP has cost taxpayers more than £500,000 to put together.

It has been drawn up to prevent developers building on sites not earmarked for housing or employment.

The document faces a race against time to be adopted before a separate inspector hears an appeal from Miller Homes about building 200 homes at Worcester’s Middle Battenhall Farm.

That site is protected in the SWDP, but the company could yet get permission to build on it as the dossier isn’t signed off yet.

Councillor Melanie Baker, who chairs the SWDP joint advisory panel, said: “This may be the last public consultation to be held for the SWDP.

“Following this consultation we hope the inspector will take the view that the plan is sound so that the councils can move on to its adoption.”

The main document and the consultation response form can be downloaded by going HERE.

Printed copies can be collected at all county libraries, The Hive in Worcester and council contact centres across Malvern, Upton, Tenbury Wells, Droitwich, Evesham and Pershore.