A planning application has been submitted for a community hub, sports pitches, allotments and a cafe in the Newton Farm area of Hereford.
The plans, submitted to Herefordshire Council by NMITE, detail plans for the community hub and sports pitches on land at Ashley Farm.
The application states the following:
“Proposed mixed use development to provide community hub with enhanced recreation facilities including a 3G pitch, car park and access roads, change of use of land from agricultural to allotments and productive gardens new buildings to provide changing facilities, classrooms, equipment storage, poly tunnels café and kitchen.”
The Southside project is one of a number of projects coming to Hereford following Government funding from the towns fund that saw the city awarded more than £20 million.
The Southside Project is a ground-breaking initiative which will transform 35 acres of green space south of the river in Hereford. It will open up a wide range of opportunities for local residents of all ages and will be a space where the community can connect.
Operating from an environmentally-friendly and accessible building, The Southside Project will offer sports pitches, market gardens for the local community and schools, plus an affordable café and cookery school which will make use of the fresh produce grown on site. There will be a wide programme of activities, plus the creation of new jobs and volunteer roles.
The project will transform the pitches currently used by Belmont Wanderers FC plus three fields situated behind them.
The Southside Project has been developed by the community, for the community. It has been brought to life by three local partners.
Belmont Wanderers FC
The football club has been running from the site for 12 years, building a following, engaging young people and maintaining the grounds.
Growing Local
An established Herefordshire organisation which works closely with local schools, families and individuals on gardening, growing produce, learning cookery skills and sharing meals.
NMITE
Hereford’s new university which focuses on practical, hands-on learning.
The Southside Project will create an exciting space for everyone in the community, offering plenty of things to do as well as a place to relax.
The project will operate from an environmentally-friendly and accessible building. It will house many new community facilities, including an affordable cafe, changing rooms and toilets.
The design and access statement states:
This Design & Access statement accompanies an application for outline planning permission to provide a community hub with a range of facilities on land at Ashley Farm of Grafton Close Hereford.
The project is supported by key stakeholders and funding from the Hereford Towns Fund and is one of a series of projects coming forward to deliver positive outcomes for Herefordshire communities.
Berrys has been commissioned to provide planning consultancy advice to support the submission of a planning application to support the above proposal which has received pre-application advice from Herefordshire Council.
The application is for a mixed use development with three main sponsors and a primary focus to enhance community facilities in the locality in line with the sponsors key objectives.
The project would provide for the construction of a new purpose built facility on a green field/recreation field site to provide:
- Fully accessible community hub building with changing facilities, classrooms and education space and cafe
- 3G sports pitch
- The establishment of an accessible community owned market garden
- Polytunnels
- Erection of a food and horticultural skill centre
- Ancillary Farm shop
- Educational garden/kitchen garden
- Associated parking including disabled parking spaces and cycle storage provision
- Packing shed/machinery/crop/cold store/office and kitchen building
- on-teaching rooms for gardening, wildlife, horticulture, art and other workshops as well as private hire events, parties, seminars, meeting and classes
- on site toilets, cloak room and storage facilities
More Details – https://myaccount.herefordshire.gov.uk/documents?id=89e02806-b9d6-11ed-9068-005056ab11cd
