WLD call on developers to complete long-overdue land transfers in Warndon Villages

Liberal Democrat councillors are calling on developers Persimmon and Taylor Wimpey to finally complete the legal transfer of land in Warndon Villages that should have been passed to Worcester City Council many years ago.

When the estate was built, planning agreements required areas of open space, drainage land and play areas to be transferred to the council so they could be managed for residents. However, in a number of areas across the villages, some of that land remains in the developers’ legal title decades later, even though it should already belong to the council.

Council officers have been working to resolve the issue and progress the legal transfers with the developers, but councillors say progress has been far too slow.

Local ward councillors say the delay has created unnecessary problems for residents when issues arise.

Cllr Sarah Murray, ward councillor for St Nicholas in Warndon Villages, said:

“Residents understandably assume that the green spaces, drainage areas and play spaces around their homes belong to the council and are managed properly.

Unfortunately, because the legal transfers were never completed when the estate was built, things can become much more complicated when problems arise.

This is something that should have been sorted out decades ago and it’s time the developers finished the job.”

Fellow ward councillor, Cllr John Rudge, added:

“The council team has been working hard to try and untangle this situation, but residents are often the ones who feel the impact when things move too slowly.

It can take far too long to get answers when issues arise, such as trees damaging roads, roots pushing up paving blocks, or fences being affected. The system needs to be quicker and more effective than it is now.

All we are asking is for the developers to complete the legal transfers so the council can properly manage the land and residents know exactly who is responsible.”

Councillors say resolving the issue is particularly important ahead of local government reorganisation, so that land ownership and responsibilities are clearly recorded before any new authority is created.

The Liberal Democrats say they will continue pressing Persimmon and Taylor Wimpey to complete the transfers so the council can formally take ownership of the land and residents can have certainty about how their neighbourhood is managed.