DEMO:LITION of an abandoned development of townhouses on the slopes of the Malvern Hills could begin in September, it has been revealed.

Hillside Close, which was built in an old quarry off the Old Wyche Road, has been empty since November 2014, because of rock falls that were endangering the residents.

Earlier this year, a development company, Malvern Hills Property Ltd, put in a planning application to demolish one of the five townhouses.

It says the demolition is intended “to provide access for specialist equipment to access the upper quarry face where the rock fall originated from and enable removal of any potentially loose rock which may be remaining”.

“The property will not be rebuilt and the existing party wall between No 1 and No 2 will become an external gable wall.”

The five townhouses were built in the late-2000s, but in the winter of 2012/13 came the first rockfall, with boulders landing just a few metres from one of the houses.

Now Malvern Hills District Council has ruled that the company does not need planning permission to carry out the demolition.

The demolition was intended to take place earlier this year, but owing to fears that peregrine falcons may have been nesting on the cliff face, the start of the work was delayed.

Worcestershire Wildlife Trust inspected the site and says no nesting peregrines were found, but is nonetheless advising that demolition should be carried out between September and February, to minimise the chances of disturbing wildlife.

The houses were built by developer Tyne Ltd, and in 2009 they were for sale with prices starting at £245,000. Estate agents Connells described the properties at the time as suitable for buyers seeking “contemporary property in a truly delightful setting”.

Last year the National House Building Council, which provides consumer protection for homebuyers, was given permission by the council to fell 58 trees on the site.

The application said: “The proposed remedial work involves installing nets on the rock face. Trees and shrubs need to be cleared to allow access for the work to be carried out, because some of the trees appear to be unstable, and because tree roots growing into cracks in the rock make the instability worse.”