A DEVELOPER has won an appeal to build 321 homes to the south of Ledbury.

Gladman won its appeal to build 321 homes on a field south of Leadon Way after Herefordshire Council initially refused its application.

With Gladman winning its appeal and essential planning protection still not in place, fears are growing that it is now "open season" for other developers with an eye on the town.

And councillors fear this could see 2,000 new homes in Ledbury.

Currently, Ledbury doesn't have a neighbourhood plan in place, which is a town council led planning blueprint for the next two decades which could influence where developments take place.

And councillors are concerned the county council's planning blueprint the Core Strategy is not enough to keep developers at bay.

Ledbury's mayor, Annette Crowe, says "the worst case scenario" may now be unfolding: with Ledbury facing the prospect of hundreds of new homes, in addition to the 625 new homes earmarked in the Core Strategy, for north of the town, above the viaduct.

The town council's neighbourhood plan may not be ready for another year or more, allowing a window for developers to look at other potential sites.

Cllr Crowe said of Gladman's success at appeal: "I am very disappointed. This is a very worrying precedent. I am surprised that Gladman was successful, because I thought the Core Strategy was meant to define where houses are built in Herefordshire.

"The extra houses are going to put so much stress on our doctors, dentists and schools; our infrastructure."

She referred to Cllr Bob Barnes who, over a year ago, warned the 'worst case scenario' could eventually be 2,000 new homes in Ledbury.

She said: "The worst case scenario is happening. If we get 2,000 new houses, that is 5,000 more people in Ledbury. It's scary.

"We must finish the neighbourhood plan. It is the only way for Ledbury people to have a say on the future of Ledbury. We can do something."

Town and county councillor for Ledbury, Liz Harvey, said that the timing of both the new estate to the north of town and the Gladman estate to the south would mean that Ledbury will miss out on some so-called 'planning gain windfalls'.

This is the agreed amount of money that developers pay out for community-based projects when planning permission is granted for developments.

She said: "This is a very concerning decision. It makes a nonsense of the effort we have all gone to in shaping the county council’s planning policies for Ledbury and demonstrates the damage the town council has done to the town in dragging its heels for so long on the Neighbourhood Plan.

"These two huge developments will both be approved ahead of the introduction of Community Infrastructure Levy – the government’s new local development tax; so the town Council won’t get a penny of CIL money from either of these developments."

Cllr Crowe, in response said: "That is true, and this is why it is essential we need the Neighbourhood Plan finished."

Concerning accusations that the disbanding and reforming of the Neighbourhood Plan group has led to damaging delays, Cllr Crowe said: "The plan would not have been ready anyway. The previous group had not set a date for the consultation we've just had. The new group was formed five months ago, and we've already had public consultation."

Gladman was unavailable for comment as the Reporter went to press.