To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillor John Stone.

To receive details of any Member nominated to attend the meeting in place of a Member of the Committee.

There were no substitutes.

To receive declarations of interests in respect of items on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 8 April 2026.

RESOLVED:   That the minutes of the meeting held on 8 April 2026 be approved.

Councillor Jacqui Carwardine joined the meeting at 10:05 a.m.

The first phase of an urban extension (known as the Southern Urban Expansion in the Herefordshire Local Plan Core Strategy) comprising up to 540 homes (Use Class C3); employment land (Use Class B and E), local centre and a country park together with supporting public open space, and all other associated works (e.g. demolition of existing industrial buildings, drainage, landscaping and ground modelling). All matters are reserved for future consideration save for 'access'. Only the means of access into the site is sought aspart of this outline application, not the internal site access arrangements.

Application approved in accordance with the case officer’s recommendation.

Councillor Dave Davies and Councillor Richard Thomas acted as local ward members for the application below.

The principal planning officer provided a presentation on the application and the updates/representations received following the publication of the agenda.

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking a statement was read on behalf of Ms Bowell, in objection to the application, and Mr Rawlings, the applicant, spoke in support.

In accordance with the council's constitution the local ward member for Dinedor Hill electoral division spoke on the application. In summary, he explained that:

• The allocation of the site was contained within the core strategy under policy HD6.
• It was understood that the allocated site was proposed to have been supported by the provision of key infrastructure in the form of a western or eastern bypass.
• The proposed development contained a significant amount of affordable housing which was positive.
• The provision of an employment site through the application was supported.
• It was understood that the park and choose facility would be considered in due course
• There existed a number of areas of concern within the local community regarding the application site.
• Flooding was a significant issue in the locality and in times of significant rainfall local highways became impassable. The proposed closure of Lower Bullingham Lane and Watery Lane would undermine the ability of local residents in existing estates to leave their houses by car during heavy rainfall when Holme Lacy Road and Hoarwithy Road were blocked. The proposed closures would also impact upon businesses on Watery Lane.
• The proposed roundabout on the Rotherwas Relief Road was supported and the final design should take account of the size of vehicles leaving Rotherwas to access the A49.
• The proposed access to the new development from the Hoarwithy Road was proposed for a section of the highway which was narrow and not felt to be safe as a point of access.

In accordance with the council's constitution the local ward member for Wormside electoral division spoke on the application. In summary, he explained that:

• Due to the topography of the land it was not felt that sport pitches were feasible in the proposed park.
• There was concern regarding flooding in Watery Lane and the impact of the new development on local incidents of flooding.
• The proposed roundabout on the Rotherwas Relief Road would be accessed by a significant number of local residents to the proposed site. There was concern that the interaction between those local residents and HGVs accessing the Rotherwas industrial estates would pose an impact on highway safety. Careful consideration of this interaction was required in the final design of the roundabout.

The committee debated the application and the following principal points were raised:

• Incidents of heavy rainfall and extreme weather was increasing in frequency and there was concern at the number of days that access to the proposed site and existing developments would be constrained by flooding.
• It was noted that there were positive active travel elements contained within the application.
• The proportion  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.