PAUL KEETCH MP CALLS FOR HALT TO 'CREEPING' DEVELOPMENT IN LLANGROVE

5.12.31pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 4th Oct 2005

Hereford's MP Paul Keetch has called upon Herefordshire Council to block a development of a further 4 executive homes in Llangrove, to be built by the same developer who has just completed 5 executive homes with approval granted for a further 6 on adjacent sites. The MP believes that the developer is trying to get round rules that provides for affordable housing in developments of more than 10 properties by developing the site in stages rather than all at once.

"This does seem to me that the developer is trying to take the local Authority for a ride", said Mr Keetch.

"Fifteen executive homes will be built adjacent to each other in Llangrove if the developer gets his way. If Planning Permission were applied for all at the same time for these the Council would be able to demand some affordable houses to be built as well. But current Council policy only requires this in applications of more than ten properties, but as these sites have been developed with five, then a further six and now an additional four homes, this rule will not apply.

"I am writing to Herefordshire Council to ask them to regard this application as a further development to what has already been agreed and to refuse it. I will also ask the Secretary of State if he is prepared to call it in."

"Herefordshire should revise its Unitary Development Plan to reduce the affordability bar from developments of ten or more homes to all developments above two, as Councils such as South Shropshire have done.

"Coincidentally, I have had a young couple from Glewstone contact me who may emigrate to Australia because they can't afford to live in the village they were brought up in! They have been told they cannot build a house on their parents' land unless they are agricultural workers - South Shropshire's policy would allow them to build an affordable house thereby keeping them in the village!

"It's about time Herefordshire Council caught up - we desperately need affordable homes for local people and the Council's policy needs to reflect this."