Plans to erect 81 homes in Hereford refused

Members of the central area planning sub-committee were minded to refuse planning permission for the erection of 81 homes with associated parking on land at Venns Lane, Royal National College for the Blind, at their meeting on Wednesday, October 24. Members considered that the proposed development would be out of character with the area and harm the amenities of local residents.

The decision has now been referred to the head of planning services who will determine whether the sub-committee decision stands or whether the application should go to the main planning committee for determination.

The site presently forms part of the Royal National College for the Blind's campus.

Outline planning permission was approved in May this year for 70 properties on the site. The Royal National College for the Blind said they needed to raise the number of homes to 81 to help pay for the increased cost of building their new sports facilities and halls of residence.

These facilities need to be in place by early 2009 as a training venue in association with the Olympics and Paralympics and the staging of the World Blind Football Championships in summer 2010.

The homes, of which 14 would be affordable, were to be a mixture of terrace, semi-detached and detached, one, two, three, four and five bedroom homes and two bedroom apartments with associated parking, landscaping, cycle links and open space.

Hereford City Council objected to the scheme because they felt it was over intensive development of the site. Hereford Civic Society supported the plans in principle but felt the site would be rather crowded.

Thirty four letters of objection or comment together with a petition from residents of Loder Drive with 55 signatures was received. The main concerns raised included the increased volume of traffic and impact on local residents.