A development of 35 houses at Weston Under Penyard will include seven affordable dwellings, rather than the 12 originally agreed when outline planning consent was granted by Herefordshire Council.

A Herefordshire Housing Officer reported that, “No affordable dwellings for rent or shared ownership have been delivered in the village in over 20 years. There is an immediate housing need in the village for the dwellings.”

Weston under Penyard Parish Council also reported that during the Neighbourhood Plan consultation process residents expressed a need for affordable homes.

Herefordshire Council Planning Officers accepted that the scheme, as approved by the outline permission was not viable. However they felt that an option delivering some affordable housing; albeit less than previously agreed, is preferred, particularly given the lack of newly built affordable housing over the past 20 years. They said that the proposal will still deliver a full amount of Section 106 contributions in accordance with the original Agreement.

The Parish Council also expressed concern about the amount of parking as the village has a poor and deteriorating bus service and so local car ownership is high.

Herefordshire Council Planning Officers said that they had noted the comments from the parish council regarding garaging and its use for storage rather than parking, but felt it was unreasonable to discount them as part of the parking provision. However, a condition is recommended to prevent conversion of garaging to habitable accommodation without further application.

The Parish Council also asked that the development will be completed in the shortest possible time.

The application was approved subject to the completion of a Deed of Variation necessary to reflect the revised terms.