Approval for 540-homes plan despite flood concerns

11 hours ago

Tom Edwards,Hereford & Worcester political reporterand

Gavin McEwan,Local Democracy Reporter

The huge development will be located south of the city centre, across farmland

Stantec/Bloor Homes A coloured sketch of the developer's proposed scheme, including red brick houses surrounded by fields. — The huge development will be located south of the city centre, across farmland

Plans for 540 new homes in Hereford have been approved, despite concerns over traffic congestion and flooding.

The Bloor Homes' scheme will see 44 hectares (109 acres) of farmland developed south of Lower Bullingham, as part of a huge "southern urban expansion" of the city.

The move will also see the developer pay £416,000 towards improving Hereford County Hospital, after NHS bosses warned that the site was already operating "at or above full capacity".

Herefordshire Council gave the scheme outline planning approval, with a future application from the developer to set out detailed designs.

Speaking in a planning committee meeting, Bloor Homes' director Nick Rawlings called it "an important proposal for Hereford" for which there was "support, though not always stated", from local residents.

But councillor Dave Davis said nearby roads were prone to flooding "which can last for three or four days".

Councillor Mark Woodall also said he feared the sprawling estate would be "cut off from the city" during flooding events.

Councillor Matthew Engel told the committee he felt the development "makes the case for an eastern bridge" in the city, and sought assurances that traffic modelling was undertaken - which council highways officer Katy Jones assured him it had been.

The committee voted to approved the scheme, with no objections and three abstentions.

The low-lying area has flooded repeatedly over many years

A road sign reading Lower Bullingham Lane, with pavement and grass area flooded with brown water. A house in the background is surrounded by a red brick wall, but the flooding extends past the house. — The low-lying area has flooded repeatedly over many years

Planning officer Heather Carlisle told councillors that watercourses would run through the site, and that some buildings would be kept to higher ground towards the south of the development.

A new roundabout will also be created on the B4399 Rotherwas link road, to serve as the main access point.

The land is located west of the Rotherwas Industrial estate, and has long been earmarked for new housing by the authority.

Ahead of the meeting, the Wye Valley NHS Trust wrote to the council warning that the accident and emergency department at Hereford County Hospital "already faces significant capacity restraints" and often operates "above capacity".

In a letter, they said the site would "not be able to absorb the increased demand for healthcare" caused by the development without the six-figure cash injection.

The southern urban expansion could eventually see 1,300 homes built in that part of the city.

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