Decision on 10-home scheme by busy Herefordshire road

Russell Pryce applied over two years ago for permission to build the ten on four acres of grassland beside The Hambletts, St Owen’s Cross west of Ross-on-Wye.

The mature trees on the irregularly shaped plot “dictate that smaller pockets of development are proposed, and will aid in breaking up the areas of development”, a statement with his application said.

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The ten were to comprise a mixture of formats and finishes, ranging from a two-bedroom bungalow to three four-bed detached homes.

All were to give onto a new cul-de-sac running from the existing road access onto the A4137, which would be widened.

The road entrance to the approved St Owens Cross site off the A4137 (Image: Google Street View) “No new housing has been built in the settlement for approximately 25 years,” the application pointed out.

Ballingham Bolstone and Hentland group parish council backed the plan but “strongly suggested” the stretch of the A4137 be lowered from 40 to 30mph.

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Nine individuals objected, chiefly over traffic and flooding concerns.

Neighbour Phil Edwards questioned the relevance of traffic data provided with the application, which dated from 2018.

(Image: Collins Design & Build, from application) “The wall on the left of the entrance as you exit the site has regularly had to be rebuilt over the years due to speeding traffic not making the corner,” he added.

The council’s own highways and land drainage officers made no objections, though they recommended technical conditions.

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Planning officer Ollie Jones judged the proposal comprised an “acceptable housing mix” in an area earmarked for growth in county planning policy.

From what specialist consultees had said of the plan, “no undue concerns regarding highway safety, drainage, or ecology have been identified”, he concluded.

Full planning permission for the scheme was granted.