Hereford is to get £2 million from the government to build 210 new homes on a large city-centre car park, but concerns remain that the site is prone to flooding.

The Merton Meadow development will receive one of the largest of 110 grants, totalling £58 million, being given to English local authorities from the Brownfield Land Release Fund.

These, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities says, are “to regenerate local areas and help people onto the property ladder”.

The council-owned car park, next to Hereford FC’s Edgar Street ground, was among several city-centre sites which the council began considering for affordable housing last December.

An earlier planning application to develop the site, partly for affordable housing, was made in 2013.

But it has flooded on several occasions recently, including in 2007, 2008, 2012 and 2019.

Hereford MP Jesse Norman Tweeted:

Great news that @DLUHC have awarded £2M to @HfdsCouncil to support 210 new homes on the Merton Meadow brownfield site in Hereford.

Local resident and campaigner Dr Nichola Geeson responded:

It does not make any sense to build on Merton Meadow with one of highest flood risks in Hereford. Can the £2m be diverted to other more suitable brownfield sites please?

To which Mr Norman replied:

I agree about the potential flood risk, having moved sandbags to protect houses in Edgar Street and Newtown Road from flooding. But this is one for @HfdsCouncil as planning authority.

A Herefordshire Council spokesperson said on this point: "Herefordshire Council has been provisionally offered infrastructure grant funding for the Merton Meadow site to assist with flood defences."

He added: "The site’s future development will be considered as part of our city wide master planning over the next 12 months.

"Any future plans for the development of the site will include wide consultation with the local community."