City regeneration plans given council approval

Plans for an £800m development to regenerate Hereford's old livestock market have been given the go-ahead.

Herefordshire Council approved the plans, which include a new shopping centre, cinema and restaurant complex, by 13 votes in favour and four against.

John Bretherton, from Hereford Futures Ltd, said the original idea has been scaled back: "It's been tightened up to hug the city walls as tight as we can."

Opponents of the scheme said they still have concerns.

Mark Hubbard, leader of the It's Our County party and ward councillor for the city's central ward welcomed the investment but said he had reservations.

"Our difficulty is seeing how it integrates with the historic core of the city centre.

"Shoppers' footfall is very easily put off - how do they propose to get those shoppers moving between the two sites."

Mr Bretherton said the development is smaller than the one originally planned: "We've had to compromise and there are now 25 shops.

"The economy's changed since we started and we needed to react to all these things."

He added that it was hoped building work will begin in January with the first shops expected to open in time for Christmas 2013.

Hereford Futures Limited has taken over the previous firm, Edgar Street Limited.