PLANS to build a housing development near to an industrial estate in Bromyard were opposed this week.

Bromyard and Winslow Town Council called an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday (August 30) to discuss plans for 127 homes to be built on Porthouse Farm, in Tenbury Road. They voted against the application, from Marsten Developments,of Worcester, by seven votes to four, with six abstentions.

Concerns were raised about the impact on local businesses, schools, roads and the noise from existing industrial units near to the planned residential area.

Geoff McGladdery, chairman of Bromyard and District Chamber of Commerce, also raised concerns about future business prospects in the town.

He said: “If you as a town council agree to allow the development as it is you effectively use up all the good industrial land in Bromyard forever.”

Coun Janet Pearce-Higgins compared the new community to the size of nearby Pencombe and Bredenbury.

She said: “There’s a possibility of a 10 per cent increase on our population and that is a grave concern.”

But Coun Bernard Hunt said: “I support the development there, always subject to the condition that it will protect the people who live and work there “Herefordshire Council are extremely likely to give permission for this application. I suggest we would make the most of our position by pointing out what we are and what we are not happy with.”

The application will now go Herefordshire Council’s planners for a final decision. This follows the rejection of a development of 175 on the same site in April 2010, as it was considered contrary to the unitary development plan, a framework for planning matters in the county.

Earlier in the meeting the council also opposed a proposal to back a retrospective planning application for the retention and remodelling of an existing bund on the site.