31 city ‘key worker’ homes planned

A plan for 31 new homes for key workers near Hereford has been revealed – alongside what will be the county’s largest park-and-ride site.

At Clubtail Drive near the junction of the A49 and Hedgerow Way to the immediate north of the city, the 31 “maisonettes and apartments” will be the final part of Bloor Homes’ West Holmer and Holmer House Farm developments totalling over 600 homes, now largely built.

A statement with Bloor’s latest planning application (number 243045) says these will consist of 15 one- and two-bedroom flats in two three-storey blocks, and 16 two-bedroom semi-detached houses, arranged around two “parking courtyards” either side of the access cul-de-sac.

The same road will serve the neighbouring “park and choose” facility, which with 100 spaces will be much the largest of its kind in the county, enabling travellers to swap their cars for a bus or bike ride into town.

Bloor gained planning permission in April 2021 for the park-and-choose area, to include five disabled parking spaces and ten electric vehicle charging spaces, along with 16 allotments immediately to the south.

Its current application does not mention any qualifying criteria for future occupants of the new properties or their likely form of tenure, nor does it elaborate on which “key workers” it has in mind for them.

“At present, these key workers are accommodated throughout the central area of Hereford in a large number of rental properties (mostly flats),” it says.

“Their relocation to new accommodation at Holmer would release a key element of city centre accommodation back to the market; securing much needed availability for the wider community and helping to address the acute shortage of private rented stock in the city.”

Bloor has set out its plans both to Holmer and Shelwick Parish Council and to local ward councillor Coun Pauline Crockett, and says it “will work with the council to agree the necessary contributions” to local infrastructure as part of any deal to approve the scheme.

Comments on the application can be made until January 30.

Herefordshire Council has been asked about its plans for the park-and-choose site, which it will take over once built.