Worcester, Malvern Hills and Wychavon councils have faced criticism over the much-delayed South Worcestershire Development Plan Review (SWDPR).
They have been set strict new deadlines in recent months by government inspectors, who need to examine the plan and decide whether it is lawful and deliverable.
A Local Development Scheme (LDS) produced by the three councils is being considered by Wychavon District Council’s executive board at its meeting on Wednesday, January 8.
The LDS provides an updated timetable for the various stages of agreeing the SWDPR – and will itself need to be submitted for independent examination.
READ MORE: Planning blueprint may have to be updated again say councils
READ MORE: SWDP delays have left planning system ‘at breaking point’
The report says a consultation on the SWDPR will take place in July and August this year, with submission of the document taking place in October.
According to the councils’ schedule, government planning inspectors will report back with their findings in January 2026 and the SWDPR will be ready for adoption a month later.
Liberal Democrat councillors have said delays to the SWDPR had left south Worcestershire’s infrastructure at breaking point.
“They have already lost control of the planning system, with hundreds of homes now being built in locations never planned to have houses,” said Wychavon district and county councillor Dan Boatright-Greene.
“Our infrastructure is now at breaking point, and no-one wants to take responsibility for their actions.
“It is the responsibility of Malvern Hills, Worcester and Wychavon councils to commission reports that are fit for purpose and conducted on time.”
Cllr Paul Middlebrough, executive board member for planning, infrastructure and urban design on Wychavon District Council, said: “To say we have lost control of the planning system in Wychavon is untrue and unhelpful scaremongering which distracts from the tremendous effort being put in by officers.
“We’ve been open and transparent throughout about the challenges experienced getting the SWDPR to this stage.
“All political parties across the three councils, including the Liberal Democrats, are already putting all our effort into making sure we have a proper and robust plan in place for Wychavon, that delivers the housing needed with the appropriate infrastructure.”