A 120-home plan for a Herefordshire town that councillors refused permission for a year ago has been given the go-ahead at appeal.
Gladman Developments, part of the Barratt group, applied five years ago for outline permission to build on Flaggoner’s Green, between the main A44 and Panniers Lane to the west of Bromyard.
It was to provide 48 affordable homes and was have brought funding to improve local schools, health care and sports and play facilities.
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But councillors on Herefordshire’s planning committee voted unanimously to reject the scheme in October 2023, against their own officer’s recommendation, due to concerns over safe road and pedestrian access to the five-hectare site, and lack of cycling options.
In May Gladman appealed against the refusal to the government’s Planning Inspectorate.
In its 383-page submission, the firm claimed the scheme “is in accordance with the [local] development plan and that there are no significant harms that would outweigh granting planning permission on this site”.
In all, over 300 documents were submitted to the appeal.
This included new evidence from Gladman on the planned access to the site arising from changes to the even larger Hardwick Bank scheme on the other side of the A44, which was approved by councillors in January despite concerns over access also being raised.
The firm had then consulted on these changes with interested parties, including distributing nearly 600 leaflets to local households, inspector Joanne Burston said.
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Her decision to approve the scheme was also swayed by a so-called section 106 planning gain agreement finalised between Gladman and Herefordshire Council in August.
This sets out the developer’s obligations to fund local schools and early years services, health, transport, sports and recycling – a quarter of which must be paid before site work starts.
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It also defines the affordable housing, including shared ownership, which Gladman must provide, and the “phosphate credits” worth £207,480 it must pay to ensure the development is nutrient-neutral in its impact on local river systems.
The agreement also confirms that the A44’s 30mph zone will be extended westwards alongside the development.
A further application detailing the design and layout of the houses and surrounding open space must be submitted within three years and approved before building work can begin.
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