Full council votes for 8,300 homes for Hereford City

Herefordshire Council has unanimously supported proposals to build 8,300 new homes in and around the city of Hereford, and a similar number in the market towns, villages and rural settlements, by 2026.
 
The government proposals, which are part of the West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) and based on recognition that Herefordshire is a ‘point of growth’ for the future, will be subject to consultation.
 
“All political parties voted for housing development, which we need in order to sustain communities for the future”, commented Councillor John Jarvis, cabinet member for environment and strategic housing, after the full council meeting (Friday 25 July).
 
“It does mean that despite some political groups being against new homes in Bullinghope, which is within the city settlement boundary, they all back the building of a very large number homes in Hereford and the improvements to our infrastructure that will need to go with them. All new homes, that are not deemed affordable homes, will contribute to infrastructure improvements through Section 106 agreements”.
 
The High Court said a council decision in July 2006 to allocate, within its Unitary Development Plan (UDP), land at Bullinghope for residential development, should have more fully set out its reasons. Herefordshire’s UDP will, however, soon be replaced by the Local Development Plan and within it, land will be identified for housing within and around the city settlement boundary.
 
The High Court rejected calls from the Dinedor Hill Action Association Limited to exclude the Bullinghope land from the wider city boundary. This means that because the land is within the new settlement boundary of the city of Hereford, the principle that residential development will be permitted remains.
 
The Judge further rejected the Association’s claim that a further public enquiry should be held, saying: “I do not think that the exercise by the council of its discretion not to hold an inquiry could be said to be irrational or flawed.”
 
Councillor Jarvis said that in the light of the ruling, the council is reflecting fully upon the transcript of the judgment and then will consider whether it should appeal against the ruling.
 
"Councillors have unanimously recognised that Herefordshire will still need 16,500 new homes to be built in the next 12 years, with nearly half of them in and around the Hereford city boundary, in order to satisfy future demand," added Councillor Jarvis.