Have your say on Whitecross High School

Herefordshire Council is launching a six-week public consultation over proposals to develop Whitecross High School.

The existing school and its 900 students will move from Baggallay Street, Hereford, to the new state-of-the-art building at Three Elms Road next summer in time for the 2006/07 academic year.

The move will free up 4.8 hectares of land at Baggallay Street and now Herefordshire Council has prepared an important document, called the Draft Development Brief (DDB), which outlines possible uses for the site.

These uses could include redeveloping the school and building up to 60 new homes, of which around 20 would be affordable, creating an educational provision and enhancing the existing school playing fields and making them more accessible to the community. 

The document (DDB) is being made public for six weeks at the Town Hall, St Owen’s Street, or Blueschool House, Blueschool Street, both Hereford, from October 27 - December 8, Monday to Friday, between 9am – 5pm, for people to have their say.

The brief can also be viewed by using the following link: Whitecross High School DDB.

Letters have also been sent to residents who live nearby the school in Baggallay Street informing them.

Comments on the brief can be made in writing to Chris Botwright, Planning Services, Town Hall, Hereford, HR1 2PJ or by e-mail to cmjbotwright@herefordshire.gov.uk before December 8 at 5pm.

The site has been identified for housing and community use as part of Herefordshire’s Revised Deposit Unitary Development Plan, a blueprint for development in the county over the next six years (2011).

Cllr Phil Edwards Cabinet Member, (Environment), said: “The development of this site offers an opportunity to provide a modern, exciting and vibrant mixed-use development that will provide greater public access to open space, sports and play facilities, facilitate community health and education and provide for local needs housing.”

Following the consultation period, the council will consider any comments received and report them to the planning committee along with suggestions for any amendments.

Once approved, the final document will assist any future planning applications for development of the site.