The Initial Draft of the Walford Parish Neighbourhood Development Plan has been published on the NDP website. At present it is incomplete, awaiting parishioner input on the preferred housing option, iconic views and a few other updates. We welcome your comments and questions in preparation for Regulation-14 submission to Herefordshire Council.
I strongly feel that any new housing development should aim at the development of a village nucleus. Walford is a linearvillage , along the line of springs issuing at the foot of the Forest of Dean escarpment. Houses are scattered and flourishing village life is so difficult to arrange. the village hall is underused . Likewise the pub. If a nucleus of houses could be created I think we would be thanked by generations to come. Think positive. Think ahead.
Hi Richard,
Your input to the NDP is appreciated. Thank you for your comments which are duly noted.
Thank you
On behalf of the NDP Committee
Why are you looking at sites 11R plus 21 to build the required 51 properties? Could you not use 11R and other smaller sites to make up the required number of properties, leaving site 21 unused, thus not creating a huge block of unsightly properties in an ANOB?
Hello Keith,
Thank you for question and your comments which are noted.
We have to convince the examiner that we have considered all reasonable alternative options so we have included an option that includes both large sites.
We do have an option that you have suggested and this will be part of the questionnaire so that parishioners can express their views for that or any of the others as they wish.
Many thanks
On behalf of the NDP Committee
Has the council looked at the issue of food security in this plan, high grade agricultral land should not be used for housing development. A lesson learned from the recent pandemic is that we need to improve our food security. I would support building on brown field sites as these often have existing water/power,drainage etc and are frequently eyesores that do nothing to advance the rural beauty of our landscapes. Rich farmers should not be profiting from out NDP, Also you have said yourselves there is no support for large developments I would suggest you move away from those and revises other site options , were you may get more support.
Kind Regards
Hi Janine,
Thank you for your questions.
The site assessments included consideration of criteria on the use of agricultural land as well as green/brown field sites.
We have to convince Herefordshire Council and an independent examiner that we have properly considered a variety of housing options and have chosen one for the NDP. To do this we have to have a full range of options and give arguments for why we chose the one we did and why we rejected the others. This is why we have 5 defined reasonable alternative options, and why we want to consult the parish before choosing one.
Thank you
On behalf of the NDP Committee