Annex outbuilding at The Laurels, Kerswell Green, Worcester
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Malvern Hills Northern Area Planning Committee on 5 Aug 2026.
The site and its history
The site is in a rural village setting, with a generous rear garden and an earlier approval for extensions and alterations that appeared implemented.
“An application was approved on the site for extensions and alterations under application M/22/01431/HP which appeared at the time of the site visit to have been implemented.”
Officer report
Earlier applications
A rear extension application was refused in 2021, while an application for extensions and alterations was approved in 2023.
“20/01970/HP. Rear two storey extension. Replace an existing flat roof with a small lean-to structure on front elevation. The Laurels, Kerswell Green, Worcester, WR5 3PE. REF. Jun 2 2021”
“M/22/01431/HP. Extensions and alterations. The Laurels, Kerswell Green, Worcester, WR5 3PE. APL. Mar 1 2023”
Officer report
What officers recommended
Officers recommended approval because the annex would be subordinate, ancillary to the dwelling, and acceptable in design, amenity, drainage, highways and biodiversity terms.
“In reaching this recommendation, careful consideration has been given to the concerns raised by third parties and the potential impacts of the development. On balance, the proposed annexe is considered to remain ancillary to the host dwelling and would be of an appropriate scale, design and appearance that would not result in undue harm to the character of the area.”
“RECOMMENDATION: Approval Subject to the following conditions:”
Officer report
Consultation responses
The drainage consultees accepted the proposed soakaway in principle, while the parish council considered the annex an unacceptable potential new dwelling in the countryside.
“S.W. Land Drainage Partnership - The details submitted within the Water Management Statement suggest surface water will be discharged to a soakaway. Whilst this is, in principle, satisfactory, if ground conditions are not suitable for soakaways, then an alternative sustainable solution will be required.”
“Kerswell Green does not have a defined settlement development boundary and the site lies within the open countryside for planning policy circumstances where SWDPR 03C and Kempsey Neighbourhood Plan K2 require strict control over development. The intended use of the proposal is not stated nor, other than a bathroom, is the purpose of the various rooms identified.”
Officer report
Who spoke
The case officer presented the application, the parish council representative and applicant spoke, no objector spoke, and ward members and other councillors addressed the committee.
The committee vote
A motion to refuse permission against the officer recommendation was supported by five members, opposed by five, and carried on the Chairman’s casting vote.
“A motion to REFUSE planning permission, contrary to officer recommendation, was proposed by Councillor D Harrison, seconded by Councillor J Michael and…”
“The Chairman exercised a casting vote and the motion was carried.”
Minutes
The members' reasons
The resolution gives these reasons:
Minutes
- The proposed annexe, by reason of its detached siting and substantial separation from the host dwelling, would not maintain sufficiently close physical or functional relationship with the main dwelling to demonstrate that it would remain ancillary and dependent upon it with the facilities indicated on the proposed plan. Accordingly, the proposal would be contrary to Policy SWDPR 03 of the South Wo
Source: the council's minutes, quoted word for word.
Sources
- Malvern Hills Northern Area Planning Committee minutes, 5 August 2026
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of Malvern Hills's committee minutes and officer report. Quotations are the council's own words; headings and summaries are Plota's.
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See the API →At the meeting
- Council
- Malvern Hills
- Date
- Wednesday 5 August 2026
- Recommendation
- Officers recommended approval
- Committee decided
- Refused, against officer advice
- Minutes
- The council's minutes
- Meeting
- Agenda and papers (council website)
- Application
- View application →
- All decisions
- Malvern Hills committee decisions →
This committee's year
20 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting, 6 against officer advice.
Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.