Campaigners are celebrating as plans to build 265 homes on farmland between Hereford and the cherished Lugg Meadows nature reserve look set to be rejected by county planners.
The proposed development by STL Energy, situated south of the A438 on the eastern edge of Hereford, has encountered repeated delays since its submission in March last year due to ongoing concerns from both experts and the public.
In August, STL Energy submitted a series of new reports addressing issues related to ecology, landscape, transportation, and flood risks. However, the decision on the application was postponed again to allow for further review. This delay sparked a renewed wave of objections, driven in part by the Land East of Hereford Action Group (LEHAG), which helped mobilize hundreds of public responses.
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Recently, principal planning officer Ollie Jones informed STL Energy’s agent, the property services firm Savills, that the council “is unable to support the application in its current form and the application is recommended for refusal.”
Jones highlighted several unresolved issues, including “significant and unmitigable landscape harm,” potential damage to the River Lugg and its protected meadows, flooding risks, and concerns about the proposed cycle and footpath routes into Hereford. He noted this list “is not exhaustive.”
Jones also asked whether Savills plans to withdraw the application or proceed to a formal decision, which STL could then appeal. He added that a “substantial volume of public representations” still require assessment, potentially affecting the timeline.
LEHAG coordinator Pam Gundy praised the over 1,700 public objections submitted, saying the volume of feedback gave the planning officer clear insight into community concerns. “Our voices were heard, and the refusal recommendation shows the power of collective action,” she said.
Gundy also emphasized the group’s readiness to continue campaigning if STL pursues an appeal, stating, “We hope we can continue to count on everyone’s support to defend this decision and stand up for our community.”