Plans for 800 city centre homes to go on show in Hereford

3:08pm Tuesday 5th March 2013 in News

Plans for around 800 homes close to the multi-million pound Old Livestock Market development go on public view for the first time next week.

Sanctuary Housing will present the first phase of its “urban village”, earmarked for land on the Merton Meadow, ahead of submitting a planning application.

The public consultation will be held at the Freedom Conference Centre on Coningsby Street between 2pm and 8pm next Wednesday.

Jonathan Mullins, Sanctuary’s head of development for the Midlands, said: “This is an important project to deliver new, much needed affordable housing in Hereford and we’re keen to speak to local residents to hear their views on our proposals.

"Their feedback will be invaluable in shaping our plans.

“Our aim is to use the regeneration project to generate new employment and training opportunities, encouraging our contractors to use local suppliers and recruit from the local area, as well as create apprenticeship opportunities for young people.”

Comments(39)

Themightyboosh says...
8:22pm Tue 5 Mar 13

great idea
build 800 houses
in the most congested part of HEREford
on our largest cheapest car park
that all the workers in the town centre use.

lets see them get out of their roads when there is a accident on the new bridge.

i really truly despair at the level of stupidity shown by our council.

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TwoWheelsGood says...
11:23pm Tue 5 Mar 13

Land on Merton Meadow is identified in the Edgar Street Grid Design Framework
Supplementary Planning Document of 2007 as follows;

"Hereford United Football Club (TCR 22) is to remain with opportunities identified for the ground and surrounding land to be redeveloped. Facilities may include conference room, bar facilities, an enhanced club shop, car parking and other sport related uses. Other potential opportunities include leisure uses including a multiplex cinema and associated food and drink facilities as well as the development of uses linked to the football club."

So the Council will have to refuse this development because it does not accord with their plan ...

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Biomech says...
12:28am Wed 6 Mar 13

So where is that car park going to be relocated to?

And those houses are going to cost a fortune to buy/rent, I don't really see it helping anyone but the developers.

#bang# goes another nail. It really does get ridiculous living here, it actually makes me laugh.

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silentbull says...
4:53am Wed 6 Mar 13

Car parks car parks car parks are disappearing from Hereford like the trees in the rain forests.
And like the trees in the rain forests WITHOUT THEM Hereford is going to die!!!!
People will only come when its easy to get to, its ok thinking 'free bus service from other car parks from outside the city but not everybody will want to use them(i certainly won't) because people would rather have choice

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Grid Knocker says...
7:19am Wed 6 Mar 13

Well, if you are "keen to hear their views", mate, try holding your so-called consultation exhibition when they're not at work! And keep it open for a week, not 6 hours.

This is precisely the tactic the Tories adopteded last year when 'consulting' over their crackpot traffic exclusion scheme for Broad Streert. Tucked away in an obscure hall behind Hereford Cathedral, it was open for all of 4 hours on a Tuesday afternoon.

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William Rudd says...
8:29am Wed 6 Mar 13

250 of these houses are 50 50 rent buy or rent only.
As for being not affordable you only have to look at the houses that are being built on Roman Rd to see we have a serious lack of housing in Hereford.House plots have been bought there before the houses are even built.

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William Rudd says...
8:32am Wed 6 Mar 13

TWG,would be a good idea if you actually looked at the plans for the WHOLE area before commenting.

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Clarkester says...
9:00am Wed 6 Mar 13

800?!? Eight Hundred?!? That is a LOT of new homes...
Each with a car, or two...
You've gotta love the whole insanity of it all.
There must be a bag of "ideas" somewhere where all these plans are coming from.
I want a bag of ideas...

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TwoWheelsGood says...
9:21am Wed 6 Mar 13

Wm Rudd - I'm familiar with plans for the whole area and the adopted policies. This proposal does not appear to accord with them. I'm also familiar with the Council's propensity to ignore their own policies when it suits and there is enough money being offered eg the rugby club development on Hampton Park Rd, a greenfield site. No doubt this latest proposal will be pushed through to try to justify the absurd 'link road'. The irony of them using the Freedom Church is not lost on me - this was also granted planning permission in direct contradiction of the ESG masterplan for the area - I wonder why?

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Biomech says...
11:00am Wed 6 Mar 13

William, are you referring to the new builds up by the BMW garage? I looked at buying one of those a couple of years ago, we went for a look around (the security guard let us have a look inside) - they are stupidly small, even for the money, we immediately decided against it, I'm not even joking when I say there isn't even room to turn a sofa/bed.

We honestly couldn't see how, after forcing furniture into the house, you'd get it into the rooms.

On the subject of parking, the OLM will have 600 "new" car parking spaces. With Merton Meadow holding 800 PLUS all the people who have to park in the lanes, on the sides and between rows - how is this going to work? And we all know that common use will be deterred as the council won't want the car park over used by city workers. Will probably cost at least £5 a day as well I would bet

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Themightyboosh says...
11:11am Wed 6 Mar 13

William Rudd
I'm also familiar with plans for the whole area.
and even a trained ape could see
its a terrible idea.
just re surface merton meadow and make it a free car park.
it will more than pay for itself in the long term in increased income from
occupied shops and businesses.

oops sorry i forgot council cronies
dont understand the phrase "long term"
its all quick cash now and leave the problem for someone else to deal with later.
EG.a massive "long term" morgage on a hospital.
i mean no one in their right mind would gamble that the economic situation would remain stable for that length of time.

Would they?

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Herefordian07 says...
11:46am Wed 6 Mar 13

Eight hundred homes on Merton Meadow!! Just looking at the size of Merton Meadow you can imagine the shoe box houses crammed together with postage stamp gardens no parking facillities and the hapless occupants shaking hands through windows they are so close! Has this damned council any idea of how quickly this area will become a ghetto, you cannot cram people so closely together without immense friction errupting, it will turn into an urban slum in no time - just what you want next to the New City centre they are creating!

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Themightyboosh says...
11:57am Wed 6 Mar 13

the population of HEREford is growing
that means more cars.
and car use WILL increase.
despite all the "meet us halfway" public transport plans.
cars are the most convenient form of transport in this rural county.
and time is a very precious commodity these days.
if i traveled the 6.5 miles to get to my work by bus it takes me 1.5 hours.
3 hours a day as opposed to 40mins by car.
thats 11hours 40 mins a week.

and despite all the evidence that to move with the times and for HEREford city to function we need more cheap parking.

(we get less parking spaces).

please will someone from the council explain to me why this is?

and why the council thinks "against all common sense" this is a good idea?

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Biomech says...
12:14pm Wed 6 Mar 13

Herefordian - it's a carefully worded 800 "homes" not houses. So imagine blocks of flats.

TheMightyBoosh;
90% of HT articles raise more questions, particularly within the council arena, it's a real shame that we all ask these questions and there is actually nowhere to get a proper answer :(

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Herefordian07 says...
12:20pm Wed 6 Mar 13

Thank you Biomech for that observation, it is as I thought - slum city central. We are all going to hell in a council handcart I fear.

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Werintrouble says...
1:11pm Wed 6 Mar 13

Herefordian07, there is only one handcart available in the City and that is being pushed about by an old granny selling melons.

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Themightyboosh says...
1:34pm Wed 6 Mar 13

Werintrouble wrote:
Herefordian07, there is only one handcart available in the City and that is being pushed about by an old granny selling melons.
sorry but ive just heard the council has just sold off the cart/melons and old lady
to pay for a feasibility study into mobile trading.

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Herefordian07 says...
1:58pm Wed 6 Mar 13

You two have made me laugh so much and lifted my spirits, thank you both it has given me the resolve to carry on!

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Werintrouble says...
2:23pm Wed 6 Mar 13

Im on about bobby and his handcart!

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littlewhitebull says...
4:31pm Wed 6 Mar 13

I would love to have a look at these plans, but as I shall be working away that day, it won't be possible. My first thought was - how can you get 800 houses in this space, but it may be that flats, etc. are envisaged. Even so, it seems that parking will be a problem, and the potential for gridlocked Hereford as the norm is a real worry.

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megilleland says...
8:25pm Wed 6 Mar 13

It looks as if the council have got into bed with another reputable concern.
http://timburness.wo
rdpress.com/category
/sanctuary-housing/
In 2009-10, according to page 18 of their annual report, not-for-profit charity Sanctuary Group made a “surplus” (i.e. profit) of £23.8 million. During 2010-11, profits went up to £24.7 million.
Legally, no tax is paid on this

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Biomech says...
8:31pm Wed 6 Mar 13

Absolutely whitebull, they are now going to put

800+ parking spots into 600 spaces and

1,600+ people with cars (assuming a minimum of 2 people per property) into the space once used for 800 cars.

Makes perfect sense lol.

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dippyhippy says...
10:29pm Wed 6 Mar 13

I sometimes think Hereford is being filmed for some weird reality TV programme,thats being broadcast everywhere but here. Every week the public are voting to see what crap scheme the council will put forward,and watch to see our reaction. My only hope is that evictions start soon,and the public vote Jarvis out!

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TwoWheelsGood says...
11:48pm Wed 6 Mar 13

I believe the article is badly written (probably from a badly written press release) - the 'first phase' of the 'urban village' will be sited on the flood plain known as Merton Meadow, not all of it. The figure of 800 'homes' is for the whole of the ESG development, right across to Canal Road - the so called Blackfriars Urban Village. The number in the first phase isn't stated, but will be significantly less, probably less than 200. The ESG Masterplan states "It is envisaged that within the Urban Village circa 90 units will be delivered to the market annually from 2010." Hopelessly behind schedule already ... and. of course. disregarding the Masterplan as well - making it as they go along? Surely not.

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wyesider says...
3:15pm Thu 7 Mar 13

Does any one know the total number of acres/hectares the 800 homes will actually be built on?
This could help determine the density of homes, and where the new residents will access the local roads.
My first thought was that this seems a small area to build 800 homes.

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megilleland says...
9:52pm Thu 7 Mar 13

URBAN VILLAGE / LINK ROAD COMPULSORY PURCHASE ORDER AND ASSOCIATED SIDE ROADS ORDER
Meeting of Cabinet, Thursday 14 March 2013 2.00 pm (Item 10.)

extracts from, but plenty more to read here:
http://councillors.h
erefordshire.gov.uk/
documents/s50011971/
Link%20Road%20CPO%20
Cabinet%20Report%20v
8%2014%203%202013%20
-%20FINAL%203%20v3.p
df
Negotiations with landowners and businesses have been ongoing for a number of years to acquire the necessary land, property, and access rights to deliver the Link Road; however a Compulsory Purchase Order is now required to provide certainty of delivery.

12 businesses will either be substantially affected by the impact of this CPO to the point that the business will need to relocate or close; support is being offered to assist those businesses affected.

Merton Meadow
7.9 The council could determine not to dispose of the land at Merton Meadow in support of delivering Phase 1 of the Urban Village at this time. However, this approach would significantly delay the development of a significant proportion of market and affordable homes planned for the Urban Village and would result in Sanctuary Housing Group, as development partner for the affordable housing, being unable to draw down approximately £1.2m of affordable housing grant awarded by the Homes and Communities Agency in support of the Urban Village Phase 1 development. Not proceeding with the Urban Village development could have the effect of jeopardising the securing of CPO powers for the link road.

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Biomech says...
10:44pm Thu 7 Mar 13

I like this bit;

"however a Compulsory Purchase Order is now required to provide certainty of delivery."

heh

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TwoWheelsGood says...
11:36pm Thu 7 Mar 13

Well, well - from reading that report, it appears that our morally and fiscally bankrupt Council are considering selling Merton Meadow to private housing developers to fund the link road! As far as I can tell, that’s what this report is saying - there's so much jargon its hard to tell - how the average dim-witted councillor manages to read it goodness knows. Well, we do know - they just vote as they are told to.

As I predicted, they are talking about 100-150 dwellings, although no doubt smart developers will cram more in, and probably demand a one off payment for doing so. Say £0.5m?

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megilleland says...
8:26pm Fri 8 Mar 13

Car parks car parks car parks are disappearing from Hereford like the trees in the rain forests.

News release today:
http://www.herefords
hire.gov.uk/council_
gov_democracy/news/6
3428.asp

extract
The council is going to charge its staff and visitors who use council car parks. The charges, which will be payable by council staff and visitors, will be introduced on 1 June 2013 in Bath Street, Brockington, Plough Lane, Shirehall and the Town Hall.

Alistair Neill, Herefordshire Council chief executive, said: “We have made the decision to implement car parking charges in selected council office locations in Hereford, with effect from 1 June 2013.”
“This is obviously a very sensitive issue in the current economic climate and whilst all reasonable options have been considered, we recognise that there is no perfect solution. However, at a time when we are trying to encourage residents and businesses to travel in more sustainable ways, it is the right approach that we lead by example.”

“It is hoped that the introduction of car parking charges will encourage more staff, where possible, to consider alternative means of travel such as walking, cycling, car sharing, public transport, park and cycle or park and share. This will help to reduce congestion and CO2 emissions in Hereford, where 10,000 car journeys are made every morning during peak times, all of which are less than three miles long.”

“This will mean that those using council office car parks where charges are in effect, will be required to pay the relevant charge by purchasing a ticket from the pay and display machine.”

I wonder how many councillors will be riding to their committee meetings when this is introduced?

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TwoWheelsGood says...
9:35pm Fri 8 Mar 13

Whey hey! Our brand new CEO hits the ground running with this most excellent and punitive tax on his own workers, and about time too! They won't even be able to slope off to Merton Meadow car park because the Council will have flogged that off too!! What next - leading by example and making them work a full day every day? Good lord, this man might be Jarvis's nemesis yet!

booby47 - come back - the tide might be turning!

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dippyhippy says...
10:27pm Fri 8 Mar 13

I think he is back Two Wheels,he's on another thread!

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ConcernedofHereford says...
10:33pm Fri 8 Mar 13

Herefordians - you have the Council you deserve. You voted them in!

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Biomech says...
11:18pm Fri 8 Mar 13

I don't vote

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Ubique5740 says...
2:25pm Sat 9 Mar 13

Voting.
"Elections are decided by the votes of the uneducated many for the corrupt few."George Bernard Shaw

Surprised that this super , well informed ,fair priced ,multi national newspaper with very knowledgable journalists with contacts in all sort of locations has not reported the piece regarding the car parking costs for their employees at some of the many locations around this County.

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bobby47 says...
8:13pm Sat 9 Mar 13

Great **** toady! Yes TWG this is encouraging mate. Staff paying for parking! Goodness! What a start.
Now, how long do we give this new CEO to realise that Jarvis has to go?

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Ubique5740 says...
5:25pm Sun 10 Mar 13

Headlines on the web
Full-time: Luton Town 0 Hereford United 1
When will the HT get it right? It's such a super paper, of very good value etc etc.
I apologies to poster for putting this on ,but why can't they get it right now and again?

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Ubique5740 says...
7:55pm Sun 10 Mar 13

Thank you HT for amending the score.Better late than never.

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littlewhitebull says...
12:13pm Tue 12 Mar 13

Thank you, Ubique. I have lived for almost three days in the belief that United won 1-0!!!!!
I only saw the headline score and haven't had time to read papers.
What a let down.

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Biomech says...
12:31pm Tue 12 Mar 13

To be honest, the lack of accuracy is now getting well out of hand.

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