Industrial estate near M5 set to anchor new town development
Plans for a major industrial and logistics park close to the M5 could deliver more than half of the employment land promised as part of a new town taking shape near Worcester.
The proposed development would form part of Woodhall, one of several neighbourhoods planned around Worcestershire Parkway, and is expected to play a central role in the area’s long term growth.
The wider settlement, to be known as Wychavon, is forecast to provide 5,000 homes and 50 hectares of employment land by 2041, with capacity eventually rising to around 10,000 homes.
Logistics park plans submitted
New proposals submitted to Wychavon District Council focus on a 29 hectare site close to junction 7 of the M5 near Whittington. The application outlines plans for a standalone industrial and logistics park.
Planning documents describe the site as a key opportunity to support local employment while responding to growing demand for modern industrial space.
“The site presents a valuable opportunity to create local jobs while meeting the increasing demand for industrial and logistics facilities,” the design and access statement says. “Its strategic location and excellent connectivity make it a key element of the Worcestershire Parkway strategic growth area.”
Illustrative plans show how the site could deliver up to 1.1 million square feet of floorspace, alongside green infrastructure and landscaping designed to integrate the development into its surroundings.
Developers estimate the park could support around 1,650 jobs on site, with a total of more than 2,200 net additional jobs generated when wider economic effects are taken into account.
Woodhall neighbourhood vision
The industrial estate would sit alongside the first phase of the Woodhall neighbourhood, which is proposed to include up to 1,250 homes, a primary school, public open spaces and local services.
Planning documents say the character of the area will be shaped by its agricultural heritage and historic parkland, with carefully planned layouts designed to preserve long range views of Crookbarrow Hill.
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Strong emphasis has been placed on linking each neighbourhood to the future town centre and to Worcestershire Parkway station, which is intended to become a transport hub offering residents alternatives to car based travel.
Part of wider planning strategy
The Worcestershire Parkway area is one of the sites identified for housing and employment in the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review, a long term planning framework that has now been opened for public consultation.
Government planning inspectors have already made changes to the draft plan, including removing Throckmorton as an allocated site, before returning it for public feedback.
The consultation began on 6 January and runs until 5pm on 17 February. Residents can view the proposals and submit comments online via the South Worcestershire Development Plan website.
If approved, the industrial estate would represent one of the largest early employment investments in the new town, helping to shape the economic foundation of Wychavon for decades to come.
