College pushes forward with plans

3:55pm Tuesday 6th November 2007

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HEREFORD'S Royal National College for the Blind has pledged to push on with a housing development which will help fund new top-class sporting facilities - despite being refused planning permission.

In May, outline planning permission was approved for 70 properties and work is already under way on the project, which includes a complementary therapy centre and additional student accommodation.

But Herefordshire Council's central area planning sub-committee turned down an application to increase the number of homes to 81.

The decision has been referred to the council's main planning committee by officers. This meeting will take place on November 23.

The development will play an important part in funding the facilities for the college, which will stage the 2010 World Blind Football Championships and hopes to be among the frontrunners to help host the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics.

Despite the decision to reject the Venns Lane development, the college is determined to push ahead with the project.

Robert Astick, the college's campaign director, felt the decision represented a stumbling block that could be overcome.

"We feel the project is far too important to let it be threatened so we are going to push ahead," he said.

"We are very aware the residents are our neighbours and we are confident about coming to a peaceful resolution."

He added that despite the annoyance of some councillors that the application had jumped up from 70 to 81 dwellings, the increase was not unreasonable.

It was still within the government guidelines for housing density and although there would be an increase in traffic, this would bemanaged effectively, he said.

"The development is an integral part to financing our new facilities. If we don't get full planning permission it will put a squeeze on our cashflow and we would have to increase our fundraising campaign to compensate for the loss of revenue," Mr Astick said.

"We think we have maximised our profits without impacting too much on local residents, which is why we have not gone to the full density."

Councillors at last week's meeting felt they could not support the increase.

Councillor Brian Wilcox suggested a meeting with developers to ensure the college's plans were not harmed.

The college is set to formally launch its Building Brighter Futures campaign, which aims to raise £10 million, after Christmas.