Proposed Housing Estate Near Ledbury Progresses

Plans for the construction of a 450-residence housing estate adjacent to Ledbury have advanced. A 25-hectare parcel of agricultural land situated to the south of the town, bordered by the A417 Leadon Way and Ledbury Road, was designated as a “strategic” location for residential construction within Herefordshire’s preliminary local plan. Over 100 local residents, predominantly against the proposal due to its potential effects on current services and infrastructure, expressed their opinions during a town meeting. The housebuilding firm Vistry Group has since submitted an application for an “environmental impact assessment screening” for the designated area, which frequently precedes a substantial planning application. This application aims to determine if a comprehensive study regarding its probable effects on the surrounding environment will be required. The town council voiced strong opposition to the proposals contained within the draft local plan, stating it was “extremely disappointed and angry” about the site selection, which appeared to be “seemingly in complete disregard of existing, approved policies”. The recently formed Labour government has subsequently indicated its intention to mandate local authorities to sanction additional building proposals to achieve its goal of 1.5 million new residences during the present parliamentary term. This policy would escalate Herefordshire’s demand for new homes to 27,500 over the forthcoming two decades, positioning Ledbury, a favored location for developers, prominently. Beyond the site’s general outline, which aligns with what county planners previously put forward, no further specifics of Vistry’s application have been released. Stef Simmons, a local ward councillor and member of the county planning committee, noted that Vistry’s representatives had previously suggested the Ledbury location, but that all aspects were now “to be relooked at” due to alterations in national planning policy. The Local Democracy Reporting Service, which reports on councils and various public service bodies, compiled this information. You can follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.