25-05-2025
Plans for dozens of homes next to drive-thru on already 'cramped' estate
PLANS for dozens of homes next to a Worcestershire drive-thru has raised concerns over an "already cramped" section of road.
Residents on the Copcut Rise estate have expressed fears over plans to build up to 40 new homes next to the Costa Coffee Drive Thru and Sainsbury's Local in Droitwich.
The plans submitted by William Davis Homes initially detailed building two industrial units on the land next to Copcut Boulevard.
However, residents' concerns led the developers to scrap the plans and submit a planning application before Wychavon for 40 homes instead.
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Residents like Kerri Moore voiced concerns on the planning application over issues with traffic on the A38 and within the estate.
"There is pressure on the traffic at the roundabout, and the awful light system is already at capacity.
"The estate is cramped, together with small narrow roads and no large parks or open spaces."
Steven Dunnell, another resident added: "Especially as the Copcut Lights and main roundabout cannot hold more traffic without significant improvement."
The entrance to the Copcut Rise estate. (Image: Newsquest) William Davis Homes plans to create access onto the new estate from Tolley Way and Mitchell Road.
The Copcut Rise estate first came into fruition in 2013 after Wychavon District Council green-lit plans for approximately 740 new homes.
Another planning application followed this in 2015 for more homes.
However, other residents like Luke Deeprose and Matt Kimberley do not object to the application but would rather see changes to the access via Mitchell Road.
Plans will see the new homes built by Costa Coffee. (Image: Dan Birch) Resident Steve Cotton explained: "The road is narrow and quite often children are playing in the road.
"At the moment, very little traffic uses the road as it goes nowhere, the addition of the extra houses will change this."
The new builds will feature nine three-bed, fifteen four-bed, and four five-bed homes.
Around 30 percent of the homes built will be affordable housing.
On the application, a spokesperson for William Davis Homes said: "The proposed development would be delivered instead of previously approved commercial buildings which were objected to by the local community, providing much needed homes including affordable homes.
"The site is located within a larger site allocated in the SWDP as a sustainable urban extension.
"It has been concluded that the influence of development on the existing road network would be imperceptible and would not create additional congestion or extended journey times as a result, especially when considering the previously approved B2 and B8 land use at the site."
The consultation period for the plans ends on June 13 and can be accessed by using the application number W/25/00991/FUL.
