Background
Information
The development and adoption of the UDP is a detailed and
lengthy process, during which assessment of potential sites
for different uses, including future housing should be
undertaken. It was only at a very late stage in the UDP
process, and after the Government turned down funding for
the Access Road which describing it as ‘poor value for
money’, that, the Council without due process and proper
consideration of its impact, allocated land for
housing at Bullinghope. The Council stated clearly in
UDP literature that the allocation was proposed with the
sole purpose of gaining money to pay for the road.
As part of the UDP process, a full public enquiry is held
by a planning inspector. The inspector expressed concern
about the hasty selection of Bullinghope saying that:
“Bullinghope should not be regarded as an automatic
strategic location for future growth” (para 5.14.15); and
also that “allocation of 300 houses at Bullinghope would be
premature and would prejudice open discussion of
alternatives for the city”
He was explicit about his reasons for NOT allocating land
at Bullinghope for housing:
“I consider that the proposed development would be a
material and unjustified incursion into the open
countryside surrounding Hereford. It would be significantly
harmful to the rural character and appearance of the area
and, in the circumstances that I have described, an
unwarranted accretion to the south of the city. I have no
hesitation in recommending that the proposed allocation
should not be pursued under the unitary development plan.”
(para 5.14.36 Inspector’s Report)
The Council ignored the inspector and voted to include the
allocation of land for housing at Bullinghope.
READ ABOUT THE CONCERNS OF
DINEDOR HILL ASSOCIATION THAT HAVE LED TO THIS
ACTION