PLANNING permission for 11 new homes in New Street has been granted.

The homes will be on the site currently occupied by Old Wharf Cottage and Glenhurst bungalow.

Approval was given by Herefordshire Council at a meeting on Wednesday, subject to conditions relating to a driveway to the site.

Developers Westbury Homes will now demolish the existing cottage and bungalow and start work on building the three and four bedroomed homes.

Councillors considered two letters of objections, with one point being that the site did not qualify as "brownfield", or previously developed land being recycled.

Objections also included the argument that Ledbury had already lost large areas of open land to developers, and approval for the New Street development would set a precedent for many other large plots with gardens within Ledbury.

Herefordshire Council's senior planning officer Russell Pryce said the site in question was brown field land and the proposal made efficient use of existing land and was not overdevelopment.

Councillors also heard that Westbury Homes had indicated their willingness to provide a financial contribution towards a community facility in Ledbury.

While there is no planning requirement for such a contribution, planning officers have held negotiations with the developers over the offer.