David Wilson knocked back in Leicestershire
Hinckley & Bosworth Council’s planning committee voted unanimously against officer recommendation in rejecting outline plans for 240 homes, with land safeguarded for a cemetery and medical centre car park.
The proposal, which includes 40% affordable homes, would see 34 acres north of Barlestone Road, Newbold Verdon developed, and was considered at committee on 4 November.
David Wilson Homes intention is for the bulk of the site to be accessed via a new route in from Barlestone Road, with the existing access point to Newbold Verdon Equestrian Centre to be retained and used to access the cemetery and its parking provision.
The medical centre parking would allow for the future expansion of the area’s existing medical centre.
As outlined by officers, the site is outside of but adjacent to the identified settlement boundary of Newbold Verdon, which is classed as a key rural centre in planning terms.
The site, immediately north of the village but across the main road that runs along its perimeter, is not allocated for housing in the local plan, however H&B’s planning policy team is soon to publish a revised position on its housing supply in light of recent NPPF changes – a position that is likely to show a pipeline below the five years required, officers said, giving significant weight to approving.
This point was reiterated at the committee meeting by Savills associate director Jess Graham, on behalf of DWH, who pointed out that refusing schemes amid this lack of supply would mean the council effectively losing control over what comes forward in future.
Along with Savills, Pegasus and MEC Consulting are also working with DWH.
Scale, location and impact were the main reasons cited by objectors ahead of this week, both to the initial pre-application plan of 340 homes and the iteration that went to committee – protestors suggest there are more suitable sites nearby. The parish council also objected, although its position in a wider sense is that the site could be considered for future development in the emerging neighbourhood plan.
Seven members spoke against the proposals at the meeting, including all three ward councillor. Among them was chair Cllr Joyce Crooks, who offered the opinion that people in the new area would mainly access the village centre by car, adding intolerable pressure.
Furthermore, she said, opening up development on the north side of Barlestone Road would “open a can of worms, and we’ll just see application after application along that side of the road”. Cllr Crooks also spoke of the village being “submerged,” pointing out that other developments have been approved recently.
The meeting was wrapped up in short order, with refusal being put forward on two planning policies – DM4 and DM10 – referencing in particular the impact on village character, impact on the countryside, and development outside the settlement boundary.
All documents relating to the project can be viewed on H&B’s planning portal with the reference 24/01061/OUT.
