Land north of Whitestone Business Park Whitestone Hereford Herefordshire

1. 1.The proposed site layout would necessitate the wholesale removal of the tree group adjacent to the southern boundary of the site (Group G3), which is protected by Tree Preservation Order TPO_662. The loss of this tree group is considered to be unjustified and would result in the unnecessary removal of an important green infrastructure asset that makes a significant contribution to the character, appearance and wellbeing of the area, provides effective screening between neighbouring land uses, and forms part of an established ecological network. The proposed landscape planting scheme would not adequately compensate for these losses in ecological or amenity terms. The proposal also fails to accord with Condition 5 attached to outline planning permission 240272/O, insofar as the layout fails to provide the required five metre habitat buffer strip between the tree groups at the site boundaries and the proposed operational development, either as a result of the wholesale removal of the trees that the condition is intended to protect or through the encroachment of built development to within five metres of retained trees. There is hence conflict with the terms of the outline permission. Furthermore, the application has failed to provide sufficient, robust and up-to-date ecological evidence to demonstrate that the removal of the G3 tree group, together with the failure to retain the required habitat buffer throughout the site, would not adversely affect protected species, habitats, or the coherence and functionality of the wider ecological network. Consequently, the Local Planning Authority cannot be satisfied that the proposed development would conserve, restore or enhance biodiversity interests, nor can it discharge its statutory duties in respect of protected species. Taken together, these matters demonstrate that the proposal is in conflict with the requirements of Condition 5 attached to outline planning permission 240272/O and would result in unacceptable harm to landscape character, visual amenity, biodiversity and green infrastructure value. The proposal is therefore contrary to Policies SS6, LD1, LD2 and LD3 of the Herefordshire Local Plan Core Strategy, the objectives of the National Planning Policy Framework relating to the retention of existing trees and the protection and enhancement of biodiversity, and the Conservation of Habitats and Species (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.
2. 2.The proposed site layout does not provide an adequate quantum and configuration of disabled parking provision as required by the Herefordshire Council Design Guide for New Developments, thereby failing to provide adequate operational space or meet the needs of people with disabilities as required by policy MT1 of the Herefordshire Local Plan Core Strategy and Paragraph 117 of the National Planning Policy Framework.

From the council's decision notice.

Application type

Approval of Reserved Matters

Scale / size

Medium

Parish

Withington

Date validated

31 March 2026

Consultation expiry

22 May 2026

Consultation start

21 April 2026

Consultation end

22 May 2026

Last date for comments

22 May 2026

Target decision date

30 June 2026

Applicant

Private applicant

Agent address

CDB Planning and Architecture Unit 5, Westwood Industrial Estate Ewyas Harold Hereford Herefordshire HR2 0EL

Statutory period

91 days

Last advertised

21 April 2026

Documents

19