Wyre Forest District Council
Authority Monitoring Report 2024/25
Last updated 8 January 2026
1. Introduction
- The council has a duty to monitor the effectiveness of its planning policies under the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012, through the production of an Authority Monitoring Report (AMR).
- This AMR monitors the period 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025.
- The AMR should include:
- progress towards the preparation of documents outlined in the LDS
- progress towards the delivery of net additional market and affordable dwellings
- progress towards the delivery of employment land
- details of any policy documents that have been adopted or approved
- details of any Local Pan polices not being implemented and the reasons why
- details of any Neighbourhood Plans that have been ‘made’
2. Local Development Scheme Implementation
- The LDS sets out the timetable to produce all planning policy documents which the council seeks to produce. This section reviews the council’s performance against the timetable and milestones outlined in the LDS.
- The Wyre Forest District Council Local Plan was adopted on 26th April 2022.
- The LDS was revised in March 2025. It covers the period 2025-2028 and sets out the timetable for the production of planning policy documents, in particular several new or revised Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) and redrafting of Conservation Area Character Appraisals.
- During 2024/25 a Design Amenity and Shopfronts SPD was adopted. This was prepared in partnership with the council’s Planning Manager and legal team. The Housing SPD was also updated, giving greater clarity to developers and communities about the expectations for housing delivery in Wyre Forest. Work was also undertaken to update and fully revise the Planning Obligations SPD and Green Infrastructure SPD during the monitoring year.
- In Summer 2024, the council’s Conservation Officer began work on the Gilgal Conservation Area Character Appraisal.
3. Neighbourhood Plans
- There are 5 Neighbourhood Area designations in Wyre Forest for Chaddesley Corbett, Churchill & Blakedown, Bewdley, Upper Arley and Cookley & Caunsall. There are 2 made (adopted) Neighbourhood Plans for Chaddesley Corbett and Churchill & Blakedown. No further progress was made on any Neighbourhood Plans during the monitoring year.
4. Section 106 contributions
- There were two S106 agreements signed between 1st April 2024 and 31st March 2025. Details are shown in the following tables.
Table 1. S106 agreements signed during 2024/25 Application Number
Site
Date signed
Provisions and details
23/003/FUL
Lickhill Manor, Stourport
12/11/2024
Flood warning contribution - £5,000
Public Open Space for Burlish Meadows - £2,301.12
WFDC monitoring fee - £2,500
22/0339/FUL
Gainsborough House Hotel, Kidderminster
14/11/2024
Affordable Housing Contribution - £336,500
Bus Stop Infrastructure £2,500
Health contribution - £14,433
Highway contribution - £5,500
Public Open Space - £12,272.64 for Brintons Park or other POS in Kidderminster as identified by WFDC
WCC monitoring fee - £1,135
WFDC monitoring fee - £2,500
5. Duty to Cooperate
- A number of meetings were held with adjoining authorities during the monitoring year. The meetings covered a variety of topics including discussion of setting out the steps being taken to address unmet housing needs in the wider Greater Birmingham Housing Market Area, and how to apply the Green Belt review funding awarded from central government. Wyre Forest officers continued to attend monthly meetings as a neighbouring authority.
6. Brownfield Land Register
- The Government is committed to maximising the number of new homes built on suitable brownfield land. The Town & Country Planning (Brownfield Land Register) Regulations 2017 makes provision for local planning authorities to prepare, maintain and publish registers of brownfield land. The register should identify previously developed sites which have been assessed as being suitable for housing use. The BLR was first published in December 2017. No sites were end dated (that is removed from the register) during the 2024-2025 monitoring year.
7. Custom and Self-Build Register
- The Self-Build and Custom Housebuilding Act (March 2015) places a duty on local authorities in England to maintain a register of individuals and associations who are interested in finding a serviced plot of land for self-build or custom build homes in their local authority area. The Wyre Forest register opened in April 2016. There were 20 individuals on the register at the end of October 2024 (the Register monitoring period runs until the end of each October). 17 of these had a local connection. The highest demand was for 3, 4 and 5+ bedroom houses. The most popular preferred locations were Wolverley, Bewdley, Blakedown, Far Forest, Cookley, Arley, and Chaddesley Corbett.
8. Housing delivery
- The housing requirement for Wyre Forest is currently 276 dwellings as required by the Adopted Local Plan (April 2022).
Table 3: Housing Delivery against Housing Requirement Since start of Plan Period Year
Housing Requirement
Housing Delivery
2016/17
189
262
2017/18
201
184
2018/19
246
183
2019/20
227
199
2020/21
154
236
2021/22
227
323
2022/23
276
515
2023/24
276
369
2024/25
276
538
NB figures are net of demolitions. 20/21 housing requirement was reduced to reflect impact of Covid lockdown on housebuilding
- Wyre Forest District Council monitors the number of completed dwellings each year as well as the number of dwelling commitments which feed into the 5-year housing land supply. This monitoring year 2024/25 there were 538 completions (net) with a further 457 (net) dwellings under construction at 31/3/25 and 692 (net) dwellings not started at 31/3/25 which benefitted from planning permission. The 5-year housing land supply for WFDC as of 1st April 2025 was 9.3 years. A total of 9 applications lapsed in the monitoring year relating to 22 dwellings.
Table 4: Housing Delivery by Parish Parish
2016/17
2017/18
2018/19
2019/20
2020/21
2021/22
2022/23
2023/24
2024/25
Total in plan period
Kidderminster
209
93
103
120
129
111
282
114
98
1259
Stourport
8
28
70
16
19
81
47
122
212
603
Bewdley
10
21
4
1
6
3
3
6
47
101
Churchill & Blakedown
3
2
0
5
1
0
0
1
5
17
Chaddesley Corbett
17
7
1
1
1
2
2
1
1
33
Kidderminster Foreign
3
4
1
2
0
0
0
7
10
27
Ribbesford
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
Rock
8
3
1
1
12
7
11
9
7
59
Rushock
1
0
0
0
3
1
0
0
0
5
Stone
1
3
4
4
2
1
6
0
0
21
Upper Arley
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
3
2
6
Wolverley & Cookley
11
1
3
46
66
120
171
111
159
688
All figures are gross completions. All the completions (bar one) in Wolverley and Cookley were at the Lea Castle Hospital site during the monitoring year.
- Historically, WFDC has seen very high figures of housing built on brownfield land. This trend continued during the monitoring year with 95% completed on such sites. The Local Plan also identifies further large sites which are suitable for residential development, many of which are brownfield. The following table shows the split between brownfield and greenfield completions since 2016.
Table 5: Housing Completions with Brownfield/Greenfield split Year
Brownfield dwellings
Greenfield dwellings
Total number of dwellings completed
% brownfield
2016/17
254
17
271
94
2017/18
154
11
165
93
2018/19
182
5
187
97
2019/20
153
48
201
76
2020/21
140
103
243
58
2021/22
297
29
326
91
2022/23
505
16
521
97
2023/24
354
17
371
95
2024/25
429
112
541
79
Total
2468
358
2826
87
All figures are gross completions.
- Although house prices in Wyre Forest are lower than for much of Worcestershire, household incomes are also lower. This means that there is a need to provide affordable housing. Policy SP.10 requires the provision of at least 90 units of affordable housing per annum during the plan period.
The following table shows the affordable housing provision split by tenure type.
Table 6: Affordable Housing Completions by Tenure Year
Affordable Rent
Social Rent
Shared Ownership
Discounted Market
Total Affordable
2016/17
100
4
13
0
117
2017/18
8
3
21
0
32
2018/19
14
0
76
0
90
2019/20
15
7
26
6
54
2020/21
61
12
20
0
93
2021/22
88
11
33
0
132
2022/23
151
25
75
0
251
2023/24
56
17
48
0
121
2024/25
80
51
68
0
199
Total
573
130
380
6
1089
Table 7: Affordable housing completions in 2024/25 by number of bedrooms and location Location
1 bed flat
2 bed flat
1 bed house
2 bed house
3 bed house
4 bed house
Lea Castle Hospital Cookley
9
29
30
3
Churchfields Kidderminster
2
Husum Way Kidderminster
4
20
22
2
Land at Low Habberley Kidderminster
2
1
Carpets of Worth Stourport
6
Parsons Chain Stourport
2
4
4
Coniston Crescent Stourport
8
8
Chichester Caravans Stourport
21
12
Land south of Habberley Road Bewdley
6
4
Total
38
18
4
69
65
5
A number of units which were completed as open market dwellings have since been converted to shared ownership with additional grant funding from Homes England. The majority of these have been on the Churchfields site in Kidderminster. The above tables reflect the tenure at time of completion.
- Policy SP.9: Housing Density and Mix sets out the importance of providing a mix of dwellings sizes and types to meet the local housing need. The Strategic Housing Market Assessment showed that there is an increase in the numbers of households in the district. Much of this growth is due to an increase in single person households. The following table shows the housing mix provided in the district since 2016.
Table 8: Mix of Dwelling Types Completed Year
1-bed house
2-bed house
3-bed house
4-bed house
5-bed house
1-bed flat
2-bed flat
3-bed flat
2016/17
6
20
43
53
13
52
84
0
2017/18
4
45
58
23
7
21
7
0
2018/19
4
37
18
12
5
70
41
0
2019/20
4
41
85
29
4
31
7
0
2020/21
3
55
114
31
7
22
9
2
2021/22
5
76
119
67
1
39
17
2
2022/23
1
112
198
59
1
69
81
0
2023/24
13
88
163
61
0
36
13
1
2024/25
8
140
219
82
6
57
28
1
Total
48
614
1017
434
44
397
287
6
9. Other Development
- For the purposes of the AMR, employment land relates to business, industrial, storage and distribution uses only, as defined by use classes B1, B2 and B8 of the Town & Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987. This was amended in September 2020 and Class B1 no longer exists, instead being considered under Use Class E(g). The following table sets out the amount of land developed since 2016 for employment uses.
Table 9: Hectarage of employment land completed Year
Total B1/2/8 and E(g) Completions in Hectares
2016/17
3.48
2017/18
1.42
2018/19
0
2019/20
0
2020/21
1.51
2021/22
2.5
2022/23
16.42
2023/24
1.73
2024/25
2.24
- The figure for 2022/23 includes 16 hectares at Drakelow Tunnels which is mostly used for secure wine storage.
Table 10 Non-Residential Sites Completed in 2024/25 Location
Planning Reference
Development
Floorspace sqm
Barton Firtop Silverwoods
20/0546
A new warehouse facility to include a manufacturing workshop, storage and offices
Phase 1: 4180
Phase 2: 6295
Wilden (adj. entrance)
21/0977
Erection of warehouse
1043
10. Planning appeals
- Planning appeals give a good measure of how well planning policies are performing. There were 25 appeals determined during the 2024-25 monitoring year, 13 were allowed and 12 were dismissed. The table below gives details of these decisions in date order with the most recent decision at the end of the list.
Table 11 Planning Appeal Decisions 2024/25 Date of decision
Location
Planning reference
Proposal
Decision
05/04/2024
34 Broad Street Kidderminster Worcestershire DY10 2LZ
23/0021/REF
Enlargement of a dwellinghouse by construction of additional storey
Dismissed
17/05/2024
10 Ludgate Avenue Kidderminster Worcestershire DY11 6JD
24/0001/REF
Two storey and single storey rear and first floor side extensions (resubmitted scheme)
Allowed with conditions
21/05/2024
Kings Arms 21 Redhouse Road Stourport on Severn Worcestershire DY13 0NN
23/0001/REF
Lawful Development Certificate for the use of land ancillary to public house.
Appeal Allowed
03/07/2024
17 Westhead Road North Cookley Kidderminster Worcestershire DY10 3TJ
24/0007/REF
Construction of a first-floor side extension
Allowed with conditions
04/07/2024
Church View Lea Lane Cookley Kidderminster Worcestershire DY10 3TA
24/0004/REF
Demolition of conservatory and construction of a single storey rear extension and garden store and associated works
Allowed
04/07/2024
228 Marlpool Lane Kidderminster Worcestershire DY11 5DL
24/0009/REF
Conversion of outbuilding to annex (retrospective)
Dismissed
08/07/2024
Keens Farm Callow Hill Rock Kidderminster Worcestershire DY14 9XH
24/0003/REF
Demolition of Industrial Buildings Erection of one detached dwelling
Dismissed
16/08/2024
218 Sutton Park Road Kidderminster Worcestershire DY11 6LD
24/0013/REF
Construction of a first-floor extension over existing carport
Dismissed
13/09/2024
Old House Farm Heightington Road Heightington Bewdley Worcestershire DY12 2XT
24/0011/REF
Removal of conditions 8 and 9 attached to planning ref: WF/0032/00 to remove agricultural tie to bungalow and reinstate permitted development rights
Dismissed
25/09/2024
Stables At Plot 1 And 2 Curslow Lane Shenstone Kidderminster DY10 4DX
22/0004/REF
Change of Use of Land for the creation of 6 Gypsy/Traveller pitches comprising the siting of 6 mobile homes & 6 touring caravans
Allowed in Part
27/09/2024
Land At Goods Green Farm Arley Lane Shatterford Worcestershire
24/0018/REF
Conversion of building to create a Holiday Let (Use Class C3)
Allowed
23/10/2024
Westfield, Ribbesford Road, Stourport-on-Severn DY13 0TF
23/0807/FUL
Change of use of land to increase domestic curtilage. Erection of new swimming pool.
Allowed
24/10/2024
Wyre Mill House, Mill Lane, Wolverley, Worcestershire DY11 5TR
23/0657/FUL
Erection of a local affordable self build house
Dismissed
28/10/2024
Rose Cottage, Habberley Valley, Kidderminster, Worcestershire DY11 5RH
23/0694/HOU
two storey side extensions, porch and covered veranda to existing house
Allowed
13/11/2024
Yew Tree Farm, Pound Bank, Rock, Worcestershire, Kidderminster DY14 9TH
24/0173/HOU
Erection of a pair of metal gates on piers.
Allowed
14/11/2024
109-111 Coventry Street, Kidderminster, Worcestershire DY10 2BH
23/0184/FUL
Change of use of premises from offices to 10 bedroom HMO
Dismissed
20/11/2024
7 Meadow View, Stourport on Severn, Worcestershire DY13 0JS
24/0228/HOU
Single storey front extension
Dismissed
20/12/2024
27 Dunnington Avenue, Kidderminster, Worcestershire, DY102YS
24/0300/HOU
Construction of a single-storey rear extension
Allowed
16/01/2025
Lea Castle Farm, Wolverley Road, Broadwaters, Kidderminster, DY10 3QA
19/000053/CM
Sand and gravel quarry with progressive restoration using site derived and imported inert material to agricultural parkland, public access and nature enhancement.
Dismissed
23/01/2025
Flat above 415-416 Stourport Road, Kidderminster, Worcestershire DY11 7BG
24/0104/FUL
Outbuilding in rear garden for meditation room.
Allowed
21/02/2025
Manor Hill Stables, Hackmans Gate, Clent, Stourbridge DY9 0EN
24/0044/FUL
demolition of existing stable block and construction of single storey residential dwelling.
Allowed
25/02/2025
Northwood Farm, Northwood Lane, Bewdley, Worcestershire DY12 1AP
Enforcement notice
Without planning permission, the erection of a building for use as dog kennels and the change of use of the building from stables and agricultural store to use in connection with the keeping, breeding and exercising of dogs not associated with the established agricultural holding and change of use of the Land from agricultural land to a mixed use comprising agriculture and keeping, breeding and exercising of dogs not associated with the established agricultural holding.
The enforcement notice is upheld with a variation in the terms set out in the formal decision.
13/03/2025
Yew Tree Farm Caravan Site, Pound Bank, Rock, Worcestershire, Kidderminster DY14 9TH
24/0172/FUL
Temporary use of land for the storage of an unoccupied static caravan (on a caravan park) until pitch becomes available (18 months).
Dismissed
20/03/2025
Birmingham Road Service Station, 80 Birmingham Road, Kidderminster DY10 2SR
23/0647/FUL
Hand car wash within existing workshop building and proposed car parking.
Allowed
26/03/2025
Elm Bank Farm, Heightington Road, High Oak, Heightington, Worcestershire, DY12 2YP
24/0312/FUL
Change of use of land to domestic garden and retention of annexe
Dismissed