Decision date looms for 'flood risk' housing plan

A heavily criticised plan to build up to 350 homes on the edge of Hereford is due to be decided later this month.

The scheme was put forward nearly a year ago for an area east of the city, which is south of the A438 and Lugg Meadows.

More than 1,000 people have opposed it on the grounds of impact on the flood plain, the risk of flooding, traffic and air quality.

After campaigners asked if concerns were being addressed, planning officer Ollie Jones said the applicants had confirmed their commitment to addressing outstanding issues.

Last year, Herefordshire Wildlife Trust objected and said Lugg Meadows Nature Reserve was a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and an ecologically-important flood plain meadow.

The Land East of Hereford Action Group (LEHAG), which has coordinated a campaign, had written to Mr Jones asking why a previous decision date of 20 December had been extended to 28 February.

A letter from campaigners asked: "Has there been any further correspondence from the applicant, as according to your email to them previously, there would only be an extension agreed if there was substantial evidence that all areas of concern were being addressed?"

Mr Jones replied: "While no additional information has yet been submitted by the applicant at this stage, they have confirmed their commitment to addressing some of the outstanding issues previously raised (by officers)".

He added: "I fully appreciate that successive extensions of time without any further information being submitted or any other visible progress can cause frustration and uncertainty."

Acknowledging "the extent of local concern" over the application and the time taken over the decision, he said: "We are actively working to establish more definitive timescales."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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