THE family behind a successful village pub in the Lea are looking to build five dwellings on nearby land.

The planning application submitted by the owners of the Crown Inn to Herefordshire planners details that five slightly differing house types could be built on land adjacent to the Old Mill Cottage in Mill Lane along with associated garaging and the construction of a new vehicular access if the local authority agrees to the scheme.

The proposal is that the dwellings would be set at the lower level on the site with a timber retaining wall leading to raised gardens which will be bounded by a new mixed native hedge.

Beyond that an area of planting of natural species to enhance biodiversity is proposed.

The agent, JCPC Ltd, acting for BH Savidge and Son of Rock Farm, states that the application is seeking to build a pair of semi-detached three-bedroomed units and three further detached dwellings each with their own individual drives off Mill Lane.

The agent added: “Whilst the site does not sit within the defined boundary of the Lea Neighbourhood Plan it is located in the heart of the settlement of Lea.

“The site is immediately adjacent to residential development with existing links to the centre of the village.

“Both the village shop and the recently renovated Crown Inn lie within 100m of the site frontage as do the bus stops where a regular service runs.

“And therefore, the site can clearly be defined as being part of the existing Lea settlement and as such is considered to be sustainable development for which the principle of development is accepted.”

The agent argued that whilst it is recognised that the site sits outside the defined development boundary of the adopted Neighbourhood Plan, it is now substantially out of date and pointed out that further development has already taken place close to the proposed application site, since the adoption of the plan.

The agent stated: “It is accepted that the Lea has exceeded its original target of rural housing, but the neighbourhood development plan was made in March 2019 and because of its age a number of exceptions can be made.

“Herefordshire Council planners will have to take a positive approach that reflects the presumption in favour of sustainable development contained within national policy.”

Comments on the application, number P261891/F can be made via Herefordshire Council’s planning portal until Friday, August 14.

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