A PLANNING application for 25 homes in a south Herefordshire village has been submitted

North Oak Homes Limited has applied to Herefordshire Council to build a residential development with 35 percent affordable housing to the south west of St Weonards.

It is the second planning application received for a housing development in St Weonards within a month. The previous application was submitted by the Duchy of Cornwall for 24 homes on the opposite side of the A466 to this site.

The application for the 25 homes said: "The ‘J’-shaped site is split into two separate parcels by an existing hedgerow and slopes some 10 metres westwards from the A466 with mature trees to its periphery with some buildings associated with its current agricultural use present in the western corner of the site."

The developers said they have been working with the county council on the plans and they held a public consultation event in the village on March 6.

Of these 25 units, nine would be affordable and a mixture of two and three bedroom accommodation.

The remaining 16 units would be a mixture of two, three and four bedroom properties and would be for open market sale.

Overall nine units will be two-bedroom, seven will be three-bedroom and nine will be four-bedroom.

The application said: "As you enter the site the units to the western side are designed in three small clusters to reflect a farmyard style arrangement often associated with the locality.

"Immediately to the south of the entrance is a detached dual aspect dwelling designed to reflect a ‘farmhouse style’ unit linking this to the 'farmyard clusters on the opposite side of the access road.

"The remaining units are arranged in a linear form fronting the main A466 to form a new entrance to the village."

The proposals are intended to incorporate a select mixture of traditional materials.

The plans also incorporate a new footpath along the A466 linking to the existing length further up the hill by the primary school, allowing access to the village facilities. A new signalised pedestrian crossing is also proposed.

The developer adds: "The location of the site ensures that it is comfortably within accepted walking distance to shops, schools, bus stops and other community facilities. This all assists in reducing vehicle movements and encourage the use of more sustainable modes of transport, whilst the increase in residents will improve the sustainability of the streets."