A plan to build 230 houses just south of Hereford will finally be decided next week.

Homebuilder Taylor Wimpey applied three years ago for outline permission to develop land either side of Grafton Lane off the A49, immediately south of the Welsh Marches railway line.

The initial bid proposed 300 homes for the site, but this was revised down to 230 last December “following comments made by Herefordshire Council”, a design statement from the developer said.

The site area has also be been scaled down from 13 to 10 hectares.

The initial application focuses on the estate’s planned connection with the road network, and proposes a new crossroads with the A49 at its current junction with Romany Way.

The existing Grafton Lane junction would be “stopped up” to road traffic, but would still allow pedestrians, cyclists and horses through.

The application has drawn about 80 objections. Highways England, now National Highways, previously objected but since appears to have its concerns addressed by the developer.

RELATED NEWS:

Planning officer Heather Carlisle recommended approving the plan subject to numerous conditions in her report for the planning committee.

“All other matters such as appearance, layout and landscaping will be determined [later] at the reserve matters stage,” she said.

Councillors on the committee are due to visit the site next Tuesday (September 27) before coming to a decision the following morning.

The planning meeting can be followed in person in the council’s Plough Lane meeting room, or live online via its YouTube channel.