Plans to significantly enlarge a proposed housing development near Ledbury in Herefordshire have drawn sharp criticism from local officials and residents alike. Vistry Homes, the parent company of Bovis Homes and Linden Homes, has submitted an application for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) scoping opinion as part of its planning process to develop farmland south of Ledbury and west of the A417.
Originally, the project outlined the construction of up to 450 homes, a community building, a shop, and public open spaces. This plan was shared on a consultation website last year, which remains active. In November, Herefordshire Council categorized the development as requiring a formal Environmental Statement due to its scale.
However, the new application reveals a significant expansion. By incorporating an additional field southwest of the initial site, Vistry now proposes building up to 600 dwellings. Details regarding the revised layout are still pending.
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Local councillor Liz Harvey condemned the expansion as “another predatory planning application,” criticizing the location at the town’s edge and arguing it conflicts with the community’s adopted neighbourhood plan. She also highlighted a shortfall in affordable housing, noting that Vistry’s proposal falls below the current policy requirement of 40 percent affordable units.
Documents reviewed by LDRS indicate that Vistry intends to provide at least 35 percent affordable housing. The developer plans to launch a new consultation website and distribute leaflets to inform residents about the updated proposal.
Concerns from the community were already voiced during a well-attended public meeting in May last year, focusing on the impact of the original 450-home plan. The release of the government’s increased housing targets for Herefordshire in August has further complicated the situation, necessitating a fresh review of development plans. Fellow councillor Stef Simmons reiterated that the proposed site is “not the right place” for such a large-scale development.