Published 5/9/2026 By William Turtle-Clark

St Barnabas Church in Hereford can be demolished to clear the way for a 52-bed care home after a planning refusal was overturned on appeal.

Worcester-based Heritage Manor Ltd, operator of the neighbouring Newstead House nursing home, submitted plans last year to replace the church building on Venns Lane, which closed for worship in 2019.

Herefordshire Council’s planning committee rejected the application in February, going against officer recommendations due to concerns regarding the proposed building's impact on neighbouring properties and the permanent loss of a community facility.

Managing director Simon Patient subsequently lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate, citing a growing demand for care accommodation for over-80s in the county.

Following a written inquiry, planning inspector Jonathan Edwards ruled in favour of the developer. He determined the scheme "would not lead to the unacceptable loss of a community facility" and represented "better use of underutilised land", given the local demand for care bed spaces.

Addressing neighbour concerns, Mr Edwards acknowledged some "adverse effects" on privacy and views from the three-storey building, but noted it was "common for homes and gardens within urban areas to be overlooked to a degree by other properties".

He also rejected a request from NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire for a financial planning contribution, ruling it "unnecessary to ensure the development is acceptable in planning terms".

However, the inspector dismissed a separate claim by Heritage Manor seeking to recover appeal costs from the council. While acknowledging the firm's frustration, Mr Edwards concluded there was "no evidence of unreasonable behaviour" by councillors that caused "unnecessary or wasted expense".