A contentious plan to develop a new housing estate on the outskirts of Hereford has encountered resistance from both public and official sources, leading to significant revisions to the original proposal. The STL Group, in collaboration with property services firm Savills, initially sought outline planning permission for an expansive scheme near the A438 Ledbury Road, adjacent to the protected Lugg Meadows nature reserve. The plan has sparked over a thousand public objections, primarily centered around environmental and landscape concerns.
In response to the opposition, the developers have amended the proposal, reducing the expected number of homes from the initial “up to 350” to a maximum of “up to 265”, with 93 designated as affordable housing. Additionally, original plans for a farm shop and café along Ledbury Road have been reluctantly abandoned due to conflicting with local planning policies.
Moreover, the inclusion of a new primary school and a southern parcel of land has been discarded following assessments that deemed them unnecessary or unsuitable. Despite disagreements with the decision to remove the southern parcel, STL and Savills have chosen to proceed positively by incorporating strategic planting to minimize the visual impact of the development. Notably, the revised scheme emphasizes that the proposed homes and employment buildings are not susceptible to flooding.
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The developers have also adjusted the usage of specific areas within the site, reconfiguring land near the river to serve as accessible open space, intended for recreational use by future residents. An additional portion of farmland, not initially part of the scheme, is set to be transformed into a hay meadow, complementing the neighboring reserve and enhancing connectivity to the public right of way network.
Amidst these alterations, Savills highlights recent changes to national planning policy that have heightened the demand for housing in Herefordshire. With limited available land for housing, the developers stress the imperative to support the development in the proposed location based on these evolving factors.
Looking ahead, Savills plans to initiate a formal re-submission of the revised plans, prompting another round of consultations to gather feedback on the updated proposal.