Will Labour’s planning reforms help controversial housing scheme?

Campaigners say they are hopeful that a large planned housing development on the edge of Hereford will not get permission despite the likely incoming Labour government committing to freeing up the planning system to promote homebuilding.

Developer STL Group has until September 11 to address Herefordshire officials’ concerns over the stalled scheme to build 350 houses (with an unspecified affordable element), a café, shop and employment space, on farmland next to the protected Lugg meadow, a flood plain.

Land East of Hereford Action Group spokesperson Pamela Gundy said the group “are still feeling positive that the development will be refused in spite of the actions the Labour Party may take if elected”.

The party has vowed to cut planning red tape in order to deliver what it says will be the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation.

But Ms Gundy says STL’s application must still overcome apparent conflicts with county and parish planning policy, along with over 1,000 public objections, adding: “It is hoped we can trust Labour’s pledges to protect nature and natural landscapes, and to build on brownfield and grey belt areas that are resilient to extreme weather events.”

Countryside charity CPRE Herefordshire has also been a vocal opponent of the scheme, and its director Andrew McRobb said he believed Labour’s approach to planning “won’t have the dramatic impact here that is frightening people in some counties”, particularly regarding green belt land, which Herefordshire lacks.

Indeed he was hopeful that a planning shakeup could benefit Herefordshire by stimulating new affordable rural housing, “which has been overlooked for some time”.

But STL’s plan for the edge of Hereford is “the wrong development in the wrong place”, he said – “and while some of the problems can be mitigated, others, like the transport arrangements, can’t”.

And he likened the campaign against it to a “David vs Goliath battle” given the relative resources of campaigners and the developer.

CPRE also hopes Labour will demand new housing be better insulated, while a requirement for roof-mounted solar panels would remove the need for solar farms in Herefordshire and elsewhere, Mr McRobb added.

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