Hereford flats could get big revamp for struggling families
The proposed flats “will never be sold on the open market or separated from the charity and will be for families in need only”
A plan to turn a former community centre in Hereford into five flats for families in need has been resubmitted.
The application to convert the Victorian part of 26 Vicarage Road southeast of the city centre has again been put forward by local social charity Vennture, based next door.
It made two concurrent, slightly different applications last year to reconfigure the building to provide temporary housing for either four or five families in need, but both of these were refused permission last August.
Now Vennture has made what it describes as an “almost identical” proposal to the previous five-flat plan, but which addresses the reasons for refusal last time, principally that it would mean the loss of a community facility.
A solicitor’s letter with the new application claims Herefordshire Council previously gave “an overly narrow interpretation” of its own planning policy on what constitutes this.
The proposed flats “will never be sold on the open market or separated from the charity and will be for families in need only”, a letter from the charity’s agent said, adding it would make a formal undertaking to this effect.
Another previous reason for refusal, over potential noise to residents from the neighbouring Cotteswold Dairy distribution centre and from traffic, is addressed in a formal noise impact assessment, which recommends installing sound-insulating windows.
The third reason for refusal, a lack of evidence that the scheme would not harm bats, is addressed by an ecological survey that identified no bat roosts in the building.
Comments on the latest application, numbered 231639, can be made until July 20.