Drakes Broughton villagers oppose plans to replace wildlife refuge with seven homes
Villagers in Drakes Broughton, Worcestershire, are campaigning to protect an overgrown, empty house and its plot, which they say have become a refuge for wildlife. The dispute matters because Wychavon District Council has agreed in principle to allow the property’s demolition and seven homes to be built, amid wider local concerns about shrinking green space.
Residents cite muntjac deer, woodpeckers and other birds, as well as possible bats, and worry about the effects on drainage and traffic. The house belonged to Marjory Turvey, who died aged 91 in 2023; councillors say a restrictive covenant may affect whether it can be demolished. A final planning ruling is expected in the next few months.
In short
- Villagers want an overgrown plot protected as a wildlife refuge.
- Permission in principle would allow seven homes on the site.
- A restrictive covenant may affect whether the house can be demolished.
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The case for
Residents can argue that the neglected plot has acquired ecological value and that building on it could harm wildlife, worsen drainage or add traffic. With green space under pressure, they may see protecting the site as a reasonable way to safeguard local amenity while the council assesses the evidence and the covenant’s possible effect.
The case against
Supporters of the homes can argue that an overgrown private plot is not necessarily a protected wildlife refuge, and that seven homes could make use of land that is otherwise vacant. If ecological, drainage and traffic impacts can be acceptably managed, development could meet housing needs while respecting the planning process and any legally binding covenant.
Explained simply
Drakes Broughton is a village in Worcestershire, where new housing proposals can raise questions about how to balance local development with open space. The site at the centre of the dispute includes an empty house and a plot that residents say has become a haven for wildlife.
The house belonged to Marjory Turvey, who died in 2023. Wychavon District Council is the local planning authority, and a restrictive covenant—a legal condition attached to the property—may affect what can be done with it. Residents have also raised concerns about drainage and traffic, as well as wildlife and the loss of green space.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Villagers bid to stop developer demolishing abandoned and overgrown home as they claim it is now a wildlife haven”.