DEVELOPERS have revealed plans to build almost 50 homes on the outskirts of a Herefordshire village.

JP Homes Ltd this week submitted a planning application to construct 46 houses and three flats on agricultural land in Weston-under-Penyard, near Ross-on-Wye.

The homes will be built on land adjacent to Seabrook Place and a new access road will connect the estate to the A40 if councillors support the outline application.

Michael Narbett, the agent for the scheme, said the plans would enhance the 1.6-hectare site and provide a significant contribution to housing demand in the area.

In a statement supporting the application, he wrote: "The site can achieve a more environmentally sympathetic appearance to the entrance of Weston-under-Penyard within this area, an appearance which will be fully complementary to an existing adjacent residential development.

"It is acknowledged that the application lies on the periphery of the settlement. However, it does not lie within the open countryside."

Mr Narbett, a Warwickshire-based chartered town planner, said the development would bring about "limited traffic movements".

He added that good visibility on to the A40 would not cause any difficulties for motorists accessing the new site.

A total of 15 of the homes would have two bedrooms while 25 would have three bedrooms and nine of the properties would have four or more. Garaging also features in the architect's plans.

Mr Narbett concluded his supporting statement by saying the 49-home development had support from local people.

"The proposal focuses on a site agreed by surrounding residents to be one which can bring forward a modest residential development capable of contributing to local need," he said.

"The end product will achieve the very significant enhancement of the site by ensuring that it does not remain an unused and neglected area of land."