LANDOWNERS are being urged to respond to a call for sites by Herefordshire Council.

Sites are required as part of the council’s emerging rural areas development plan document (DPD) following the adoption of the core strategy – or local plan – last year.

The call for sites is to update the existing strategic housing land availability assessment (SHLAA) as part of the evidence base for potential future housing allocations within the rural areas DPD.

Planning specialist Paul Barton, of Bruton Knowles, said owners should be primed and ready to come forward with sites.

“The local authority will be seeking potential sites to be included as part of its proposed growth policy. Information on sites near settlements is particularly welcome as such sites are more likely to be considered sustainable by the council.”

The DPD will be looking at all rural areas, but in particular in:

  • Allensmore
  • Aston Ingham
  • Bringsty
  • Brockhampton
  • Bromsash
  • Bush Bank
  • Cobhall Common
  • Coddington
  • Combe Moor
  • Didley
  • Dilwyn
  • Eastnor
  • Edwyn Ralph
  • Glewstone
  • Gorsley
  • Kilpeck
  • Kingsthorne
  • Kinnersley
  • Kinsham
  • Letton
  • Linton (Ross-on-Wye)
  • Mathon
  • Monkland
  • Much Birch
  • Much Cowarne
  • Much Dewchurch
  • Norton Canon
  • Pipe and Lyde
  • St Weonards
  • Stapleton
  • Stoke Cross
  • Stoke Edith
  • Stoke Lacy
  • Upper Hill
  • Winnal
  • Wormbridge
  • Wormelow

Mr Barton said: “We have seen development land sales for large scale projects adjoining some of the region’s larger settlements achieving good prices, but this has become something of a lottery with people seeing wide divergence within a few hundred metres of one another.

“As always, obtaining the right advice is critical before proceeding.

"Landowners may be unaware that often developers pay for professional fees, so reducing any element of risk.

"The Government has made it abundantly clear that the number of new homes being built is not sufficient to ease the simple supply and demand which is in turn keeping house prices high and out of reach for much of the population.”

The closing date for submission is September 7.

Any sites submitted within NDP areas will be passed on to the parish council producing the neighbourhood plan.

Visit https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/planning-policy/local-plan-evidence-base/rural-areas-development-plan-document