£2m for city centre affordable homes

Hereford is to get £2 million from the Government to build 210 new homes on a large city-centre car park, despite concerns that it is prone to flooding.

The Merton Meadow development will receive one of the largest of 110 grants, totalling £58 million, being given to English local authorities from the Brownfield Land Release Fund.

These, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities says, are “to regenerate local areas and help people onto the property ladder”.

The council-owned car park, next to Hereford FC’s Edgar Street ground, is among several city-centre sites which the council has been considering for affordable housing.

An earlier planning application to develop the site, partly for affordable housing, was made in 2013.

But it has flooded in the recent past, including in 2012 following heavy rain.

Hereford MP Jesse Norman Tweeted: “Great news that @DLUHC have awarded £2M to @HfdsCouncil to support 210 new homes on the Merton Meadow brownfield site in Hereford.”

Local resident and campaigner Dr Nichola Geeson responded: “It does not make any sense to build on Merton Meadow with one of highest flood risks in Hereford.

“Can the £2m be diverted to other more suitable brownfield sites please?”

To which Mr Norman replied: “I agree about the potential flood risk, having moved sandbags to protect houses in Edgar Street and Newtown Road from flooding. But this is one for @HfdsCouncil as planning authority.”