Plans for a new four-storey apartment block in the historic heart of Hereford have been put forward.

Mr P Tobin of local firm St Martins Developments proposes six two-bedroom “townhouses” and two three-bedroom rooftop apartments on brownfield land bounded by Bishops Meadow, St Martin’s Street, St Martin’s Avenue and the Wye Street car park, near the Old Bridge over the Wye within the city’s central conservation area.

His application acknowledges that the site is given a high “flood zone 3” rating by the Environment Agency, “but benefits from the Hereford flood alleviation scheme which provides a one-in-200-year level of protection”.

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The design “makes provision for any lingering possibility (however unlikely) that should the site flood, no part of the residential accommodation will be liable to flood”, it says.

A proposal for 10 properties on the site was put forward in 2007 but was rejected over concerns about traffic down the small access route onto St Martin’s Avenue.

With fewer properties, the new plan “reflects the adopted policy of reduced car parking provision for developments within the city centre conservation area”, with ten spaces proposed.

Discussions with a council highways engineer also led to “a revised (road) access arrangement, confirmed to be acceptable”.

Accompanying plans show the ground floor housing six garages as well as cycle stores. Both bedrooms of the six two-bedroom properties would occupy the first floor, with a kitchen/dining and living room on the second floor.

The top floor would accommodate two larger flats, each on a single storey but extending over the area of three flats below.

All would have balconies, which would also be to the rear on the top floor.

The choice of materials will provide “a contemporary finish to ensure the building is reflective of its time”, the application says, adding that the properties will all have disabled access.

Comments on the application, numbered 230432, can be made until April 15.

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