HEREFORDSHIRE Council is poised to set up its own housing development company – due, it says, to “a critical need for additional housing in the county”.

And two council-owned sites identified that could be built on are the former Hildersley Farm and part of the John Kyrle High School sites east of Ross-on-Wye;

The move was urged by a council scrutiny committee, drawing on a report it commissioned on options for the council to address the problem.

This lists the larger council-owned sites that could be developed as:

  • The Burghill Hospital Farm estate northwest of Hereford (400 homes). Developing this site “is not straightforward”, making selling it to neighbouring developer Taylor Wimpey an option.
  • Merton Meadow, Hereford (300 homes). Though funding of £2 million has been secured to address flood risk at this site, it “is currently a predominant part of car parking in the city”, the report said.
  • Bridge Street Sport Centre, Leominster (229 homes).
  • Land west of the Holmer North development north of Hereford (213 homes).
  • The Essex Arms site, Station Approach, Hereford (120 homes). A flood-reducing public wetland is also earmarked for this site.
  • County Bus Station, Hereford (85 homes). This is also earmarked for a possible multi-storey car park once the new transport hub at the nearby railway station is completed.
  • Three Elms Trading Estate, Hereford (77 homes).

Smaller sites include the former Hildersley Farm and John Kyrle High School sites east of Ross-on-Wye; the playing field off Chatsworth Road, west Herefordthe top car park in Plough Lane, Hereford; Wall Hills Close, Kington; Broad Street car park, Leominste; and The Green, Grafton southwest of Hereford.

The report listed three models the council could take to achieve this: overseeing building and management directly; setting up (but retaining some ownership of) an “arms-length” housing provider; or forming a joint venture with an independent company.

The council’s ruling cabinet is expected to formally back the idea later this month.