A REVISED scheme to build on land in The Lea has been approved by Herefordshire planners.

The owners of a railway company in the Lea intended to demolish the existing engineering buildings and associated offices and build 13 new homes on the site.

But the revised application has been reduced to eight properties to address concerns regarding the retention and protection of established trees within the site.

It also enabled an amended layout that better responds to the site's arboricultural constraints and safeguards the amenity and environmental value of the retained trees.

The family behind the proposal, Alan Keef, Patrick Keef and Alice Basey submitted the scheme that will retain the two existing detached dwellings at the rear of the site.

The proposed eight two storey dwellings comprises of a mix of various property types

The company established itself in the village in 1985 and has been the sole occupant of The Lea Line building, which had originally been a warehouse, since1986.

Some ten years ago Alan Keef Limited company expanded and has been operating out of two additional properties in Ross-on-Wye and Mitcheldean.

The company states that the practical aspects of operating from three sites is no longer sustainable and it has taken the decision to consolidate back to one site following the impending expiration of the Lea Line property lease.

The Environment Agency stated that the previous use of part of the development site relating to Lea Line Warehouse Historic Landfill suggests that the land may be affected by contamination.

Planning officer Heather Carlisle commented on the revised plan which now indicates that there will be a pedestrian footway at the front of the site which will improve connectivity to the main village and the services provided which is welcomed.

Ms Carlisle observed that from the evidence submitted the redevelopment of the site would not result in an overall shortage of employment land or premises within the locality.

She agrees with the applicant that the site is physically constrained and incapable of accommodating a more comprehensive employment-led redevelopment.

The submission also seeks to justify a departure from the usual requirement for a 12-month marketing exercise, citing the specialist nature of the authorised railway engineering use, operational restrictions, site constraints and the availability of more suitable employment premises elsewhere within the market area.

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