LEDBURY people may only have 'a 50/50 chance' to block plans for major housing estate to the south of town, with the developer preparing to go to appeal.

At stake will be be two very different visions of Ledbury's future, concerning how the town should expand.

New planning regulations, which could possibly scupper plans for 321 homes on land to the south of Leadon Way, are not certain to be in place by the time of the appeal, at the end of the year.

Gladman Developments Ltd has confirmed that is is appealing, after Herefordshire Council refused two planning applications; and Emma Holton, the county councillor for Ledbury South, said this week: "It could go either way. This could leave us in a 50/50 position."

If Gladman is successful at appeal, it could leave Ledbury with two new large estates when local residents expected only one.

There could be a new estate to the north of the viaduct, where Herefordshire Council planners have earmarked land for 625 new homes, and another new estate to the south of the bypass, opposite the Deer Park estate.

What could help Herefordshire Council to fight its corner would be the completion of the Core Strategy, the council's planning blueprint for the next two decades, and the drive is on to get it completed by the end of the summer.

Cllr Holton said: "It's a race against time".

She said of Gladman: "They are quite forthright in their approach. They target villages and small market towns where they know planning procedures are not in place yet."

Cllr Holton raised her concerns at last week's full town council meeting, in the Market House, when she warned that not having the town's Neighbourhood Plan in place could have serious consequences at the appeal.

This is the plan which is being put together by Ledbury people, to compliment Core Strategy as further powerful planning guidelines for the future.

Cllr Holton said: "Without the Neighbourhood Plan, we will be in a very difficult position."

But the Neighbourhood Plan, which could tilt the balance in the council's favour, will not be ready by the time of the appeal.

Ian James, chairman of the Neighbourhood Plan Working Party said: "I think it unlikely it will be ready by then. In short, it will not be a material factor."

Both the Core Strategy and the Neighbour Plan will replace the council's old Unitary Development Plan (UDP), planning guidelines which Gladman, in an earlier statement, called "out of date and in need of review".

The lack of new completed planning regulations means that developers are now look for opportunities in addition to, and beyond, sites that would be preferred by the county council.

Speaking at last week's full town council meeting, Cllr Liz Harvey said: "This is starting to cause problems for our planners at county level."

Ledbury's mayor, Cllr Annette Crowe said: "With the Core Strategy not formerly in place, the developer is jumping in, hoping it can get this through."

She said of the Gladman proposal for Ledbury: "I just hope that the Inspector will be sensible. I can't see it getting planning permission."

But Martyn Twigg, managing director of Gladman Developments, said: "“The proposals represent sustainable development and provide significant benefits. Accordingly we consider that planning permission should be granted."

He added: "I can confirm that we have lodged an appeal against the refusal of planning permission. Dates have not yet been set for a public inquiry."