Vision
Wychavon is pioneering new town that will be built around the key railway hub of Worcestershire Parkway, delivering a place where people will live connected, fulfilling lives, in harmony with nature and each other.
Faced with a climate crisis and a national housing shortage, we need bold solutions. Wychavon Town is our response to the challenges we’re being posed.
Our new town will be designed to foster a sense of belonging, support low-carbon lifestyles, and provide easy access to both green space and essential services. We expect Wychavon Town to set the standard nationally for new town development.
The South Worcestershire Councils (Wychavon District, Malvern Hills District and Worcester City Councils) are working proactively with landowners and developers to make our ambitious vision for Wychavon Town a reality.
Key delivery partners include Homes England, Brighton STM Developments, Hallam Land/Spetchely Estate, Summix, Wain Estates, and Bellway Homes. Specialist advisers Arcadis, David Lock Associates and KMC Transport are working with us to make sure Wychavon Town has the necessary investment and infrastructure to unlock the potential it holds.
Not only is Wychavon Town the flagship site in the new South Worcestershire Development Plan but it is one of the strategic growth projects in the Government’s New Homes Accelerator Programme. This allows us to benefit from a partnership with Homes England so we can deliver the vision together and at pace.
Looking after
the place
While we are master planning for Wychavon Town, it is the people who already live in the area and future residents, that will turn the place into a
community.
We want to make sure we empower residents to take ownership of their town. To support this, we will need to make sure open spaces, streets and other infrastructure are designed to standards where they are well managed, either by the council or a management company.
Funding will be secured through the planning legal agreements to provide the finances to deliver the high-quality upkeep and maintenance of Wychavon Town’s places and spaces long-term.
Options to achieve this could include creating a Community Land Trust, Community Interest Company or Development Trust - legal, not-for-profit organisations that allow residents to manage shared paces like parks, play areas and community centres for the benefit of residents.
Some of these options could be used as temporary measures while the town grows before eventually being transferred to a town council. This would give local people a formal voice in decisions about services, local priorities and future improvements.
There will also be a role for existing parish councils to support and manage the development of Wychavon Town’s assets while it grows, before transferring responsibility to a new town council.