Seek approval to commission external support to submit a new planning application for the Model Farm Enterprise Park and work to identify the key constraints to development in the council’s land holdings that surround Model Farm.

The council retains a planning consent for the Model Farm Enterprise Park so that the scheme can be developed when funding becomes available. The application will aim to make sure the transport network capacity for the development is retained and a valid permission remains in place. Through the feasibility work, the council will identify the constraints and opportunities affecting its land holdings east of Ross-on-Wye.

Do nothing, do not submit an application and do not investigate the opportunities within the surrounding land: In this scenario, the planning consent on the Model Farm site would be lost in December. If funding was to become available, planning would then be a constraint and risk for both obtaining a funding award and developing the site. The road network capacity that was secured by the previous planning permission could be captured by other developments. This would then limit the development potential of the council’s assets in this area. The council would also not understand the constraints and opportunities of its land holdings east of Ross-on-Wye.  

Do minimum: resubmitting the planning application only and do not undertake feasibility work into wider development. As there are synergies between the transport and ecology aspects of the planning permission and the feasibility work, the cost savings will be low and the opportunity to understand the constraints and opportunities of its land holdings east of Ross-on-Wye would be lost.