THE rapid expansion of Ledbury shows no signs of slowing down, with another planning application for another estate having just been received by Herefordshire Council.

But recent discussions have been taking place between the developer and the council's planning department over how large the proposed new estate, off Martins Way, should actually be.

As it stands, the smallest house on the new estate would have three bedrooms, when the council was expecting one- and two-bedroom homes in the mix, and more new homes.

This would be in line with the council's planning blueprint, The Core Strategy, which encourages a high proportion of social or affordable housing in any new development.

Cllr Bob Barnes, a member of Ledbury town council's economic and planning committee said this week: "Ledbury is over provided with three bedroom properties, with little opportunity for some people to down-size."

He said more discussion between the developer and the planning authority "will be needed", but he added: "Obviously developers will build houses to suit market demand. It's their prerogative."

The full planning application, by Property Solutions Ledbury, is for ten new houses with access and parking facilities, to be built on cleared scrubland on land off Martins Way, on the Deer Park estate, adjacent to the bypass.

But following pre-application discussions, Herefordshire Council's planning department was expecting twice the number of new homes, and with a wider mix of sizes.

A letter from Herefordshire Council to the applicant, given in the planning application papers, states: "Our pre-application discussions never involved this scheme of ten dwellings."

Instead, the planning authority was expecting an application for 21 homes on the 0.85 hectare site, including two one-bedroom homes; eight two-bedroom homes, nine three-bedroom home and two four-bedroom homes.

However, the developer has submitted a full planning application for six three-bedroom homes and four larger houses, each with four bedrooms.

Herefordshire Council's planning department has expressed the view that the proposed development, as it stands, "comprises a density of development that does not appear to make the best use of land nor does it appear to provide an appropriate size mix."

A design and access statement, from Quattro Design Architects states: "The scheme represents an opportunity to develop a scheme that enhances the built environment of Ledbury whilst aiding the continual growth of the area."

An area of scrubland has already been cleared.

A nature survey for the developer found "there are no habitats of international, national, county or local importance that would directly affect the proposals."

Ledbury is undergoing a period of rapid expansion, with up to 2000 new homes on the cards, with expansion to the north and south of the the town.

Herefordshire Council's Core Strategy document only earmarked the town for 800 new homes, but that will be greatly exceeded.