Plans for new homes adjusted following objections

A plan to build a large number of new homes near a nature reserve is being scaled back in the face of official and public objections.

The outline planning permission bid by developers STL Group for the scheme, next to the protected Lugg Meadow just outside Hereford, has drawn over a thousand public objections.

But now STL's agent, Savills, has updated the bid, dropping the likely number of homes from the original "up to 350" to "up to 265".

Plans for a farm shop and cafe have been dropped as being contrary to local planning policy.

A southern "parcel" of land has also been removed from the scheme, after highways officers said it was less accessible and sustainable.

STL and Savills said they disagreed but would cut it "in the spirit of progressing positively with the application".

But a small area of employment land in the north-west corner of the site remains part of the plan.

Objections raised before the redraft were largely over environmental and landscape concerns.

An update from Savills said "further layers of strategic planting" would be included to reduce visual impact.

It added none of the proposed homes on the site, 93 of which are classed as affordable, would be at risk of flooding.

Land nearest the river, initially earmarked for ecological enhancement with limited public access, will now be accessible open space.

A further area of farmland, not part of the original scheme, would become a hay meadow.

Savills said the development, south of the A438 Ledbury Road, would help Herefordshire Council meet its housing requirements under national planning policy.

The revised plans will now be resubmitted a further round of consultation takes place.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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