A plan for 16 new flats in the middle of a Herefordshire town has been put forward, after a similar bid failed a year ago.

The proposal is to convert and extend commercial buildings at 2-5 Market Place, Ross-on-Wye, and to build a further three-storey block with “undercroft” parking to the rear, creating ten one-bedroom and six two-bedroom flats.

Six of these would be classed as affordable housing, of which two would be sold at 30 per cent below market value under the First Homes scheme.

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The site is a sensitive spot next to the grade II* listed Market House, within the town’s conservation area. As well as door onto Market Place, the properties would have vehicle and pedestrian access to the rear via The Old Gaol, a lane running from New Street.

Within the courtyard there would be 31 car parking spaces and 20 secure cycle spaces, while a new roof garden and terrace would be created by removing a lower section of roof.

The two shops on the ground floor of 2-5 Market Place, currently housing a Boots chemist and Mountain Warehouse store, would remain but would be refurbished.

The “highly energy efficient, sustainable, quality living spaces… on a site which currently detracts from the conservation area” would instead “make a modest contribution to addressing Hereford’s housing deficit and adding variety to the housing stock”, according to the application, once again by Mr B Smith of S Andrews & Son of Pwllheli, Gwynedd.

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The firm’s previous bid to develop the site was refused last March for a number of reasons including lack of heritage impact assessment, the “over-dominant” proposed extra floor overlooking Market Place, and the scheme’s overall lack of “local distinctiveness”, drainage, housing mix and the lack of a so-called section 106 commitment to fund wider area improvements.

The current application claims to address these shortcomings, including with a 57-page heritage statement.

While the extra floor will be retained, it would be in the form of a sloping “mansard” roof “more typical of the conservation area”, with four dormer windows facing the square.

Comments on the application, numbered 230032, can be made until February 23.