Site visit on retail unit alterations and nine apartments in Ross

Members of the southern area planning sub-committee are to have a site visit before making a decision on plans for alterations and refurbishment to a retail unit at 27 Brookend Street, Ross-on-Wye and the erection of nine apartments.

The site visit was agreed at their meeting on Wednesday, March 5.

The site is located in the Ross-on-Wye conservation area, the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the central shopping area as shown in the Herefordshire Unitary Development Plan 2007.

This scheme proposes the demolition of the nursery and shop units and replacing them with a terrace of nine apartments. The café shopfront is to be replaced by a Victorian style shopfront. It will be a car-free development with storage provided for 13 bicycles.

Ross Town Council was concerned over the lack of provision for parking and wanted affordable housing included.

A petition with 12 signatures from the residents of Wallace Court, Station Street, Ross-on-Wye was received objecting to the application. They felt the scheme was overdevelopment of the site and were concerned over the access and exit from the site.

The site is located in a flood risk area but the application came with a flood risk assessment which the Environment Agency considers acceptable subject to conditions.