CONTROVERSIAL plans for a new Malvern Hills District Council building were given the green light by councillors at the latest full council meeting.

The plans were discussed at the meeting held at the Council Chamber in Avenue Road, on September 27.

The proposals were for an investment in the current Council Chamber site, with a new build creating a single site office location and council chamber, providing improved facilities for both the council and the wider community.

It was also proposed to market Brunel House for rent or sale.

Before the item was discussed by members, the meeting began with the public participation section in which appeals were made to members to defer the item and consider other options, including moving to the Grange - a currently disused Victorian building on the edge of Priory Park.

Bob Tilley, of Malvern Civic Society's community led Grange steering group, said: "We support much of what is recommended in the report, we support the generality of the recommendations.

"Bringing council staff together in one site and reducing costs is good. Developing better conference facilities here in the centre of Malvern is also good.

"However the report has not considered building at the nearby council-owned Grange building.

"We urge you, the council, to carefully research our plans."

Philip Rumney, a former councillor, also spoke against the plans, saying the council offices should be built on land next to Malvern Splash.

"I fear a really great opportunity to make Malvern great is about to be lost," he said.

But when discussions began on the item Councillor Paul Cumming, responsible for finance at Malvern Hills District Council, ruled out these options explaining contracts had already been exchanged in the Malvern Splash site.

"We are going to have to look at the Grange in future, and what we do with that.

"But we need to look at what's best for the running as a council," he added.

He said the scheme represented an opportunity to solve a number of issues, and in the process make savings for years to come, adding the £900,000 being spent should be seen as "an investment in our property".

The item was put to the vote, and was unanimously backed by members of the council.