Herefordshire Council devoted nearly £1 million to developing a comprehensive masterplan for Hereford’s future growth, only to discard the plan and begin again under new leadership.
In spring 2023, just before local elections that shifted the county’s political control, the council—then led by a coalition of Independents for Herefordshire and Greens—released a draft masterplan for public consultation. This ambitious vision aimed for a transformed Hereford by 2050, reducing traffic in the historic city center through more one-way and pedestrianised streets, converting car parks into housing or green spaces, and establishing low-traffic neighborhoods throughout the city.
A response to a Freedom of Information request revealed that between 2021/22 and 2023/24, around £981,000 was spent on developing the masterplan. This investment covered extensive studies, transport planning, surveys, and data analysis intended to better understand Hereford’s unique opportunities and challenges.
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The council noted that the data gathered from this work also supported other strategic efforts, such as the Local Plan consultation conducted in summer 2024.
However, after the minority-Conservative administration took office, the previous masterplan was deemed overly “anti-car” and was not pursued further. Instead, the council restarted the planning process last year, initially focusing public consultation solely on the Merton Meadow area, where the vision for a new “urban village” still remains a key goal.
A subsequent online consultation on the draft “Hereford 2050 City Masterplan” in December and January received minimal attention, with only 11 responses. Both the city council and the Hereford Civic Society reported not being informed about the consultation.
Regarding the costs of this new round of engagement, Herefordshire Council stated that it was managed internally, so specific expenses could not be separated or calculated.
Councillor Graham Biggs, Cabinet Member for Economy and Growth, emphasized that the council is still “in the early stages” of developing a new city masterplan. This fresh approach includes a renewed commitment to the long-discussed development of a Hereford bypass as part of the strategy moving forward.