This is a part of an information gathering exercise aimed at identifying land that could be allocated for certain uses, including:

• Housing (including self-build or affordable housing)
• Employment or economic development
• Renewable energy generation
• Green or blue infrastructure (ie infrastructure relating to natural spaces and water systems)
• Biodiversity or nature recovery
• Community facilities
• Mixed-use schemes

Submitting a site does not necessarily mean that it will be allocated. However, it helps ensure that the council is made aware of potential opportunities as it plans for growth and change over the next 20 years, including consideration of where new homes, jobs, infrastructure and environmental improvements may be located. 

Following an update to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) by the UK Government, the new standard method for calculating growth requirements has set a 20-year housing requirement for Herefordshire of 27,260 dwellings. To ensure additional flexibility and choice when identifying development land, the aim is to identify sufficient land to accommodate 30,000 dwellings with all other associated development required.

Councillor Elissa Swinglehurst, Cabinet Member Environment at Herefordshire Council, said:

The call for sites is a very important step in our planning processes as we seek to develop a new Local Plan for Herefordshire.  We have been given a mandatory housing target of 27,260 by the Government which will need to be accommodated along with the employment, educational, health, transport and environmental infrastructure to support that level of growth. 

So far, we have received around 40 submissions but we’re sure that there will be many other opportunities out there. Therefore, we’re issuing this reminder so that any sites that might be appropriate are brought to our attention. This will mean that we have the widest possible options from which to make the best possible choices.

I would remind any site promoters and landowners to come forward with their submissions, if they haven’t already done so, in order that site assessments can begin.

The council has introduced a new digital platform for submissions to the call for sites consultation. This improves the efficiency of assessing sites and offers an improved user experience for site promoters.

For more information, and to submit your site suggestion, please visit the web page. You will need to register to access the platform, but this is quick and easy to do.