The proposed development at Oak Road in Littlethorpe was refused by the Blaby District Council Planning Committee last week. The application, submitted by Gladman Developments Ltd, sought outline permission for up to 155 residential dwellings, including affordable housing, public open space, landscaping, and sustainable drainage systems.

The key reason for refusal was that the site is designated as countryside in the Blaby District Local Plan. The committee determined that the loss of this greenfield land was not justified by the need for housing in this location. The development was considered an unwarranted urban intrusion beyond the well-defined settlement boundary of Littlethorpe, causing significant and demonstrable harm to the local landscape, countryside, and village character. The proposal was deemed contrary to Policy CS18 of the Blaby District Local Plan (Core Strategy) and Policy DM2 of the Blaby District Local Plan (Delivery) Development Plan Document.

It will be interesting to see whether the applicant decides to appeal this decision.

More details of the Countesthorpe Foston Road Development

The Reserved Matters application for the development of 170 houses on Leicester Road / Foston Road was submitted this week. This application outlines the proposed site layout, house types, and other key details. It is disappointing to see that Active Travel England—the government body responsible for assessing whether developments support cycling to schools, shops, workplaces, and other destinations—has not provided specific feedback beyond their standard guidance.

The post Planning Update – Week Ending 22nd February 2025 appeared first on Blaby Green Party.

Blaby District Planning Meeting: Littlethorpe & Countesthorpe Developments Face Critical Decision

On 13th February, Blaby District Council’s Planning Committee will decide on two controversial housing developments in Littlethorpe and Countesthorpe. The proposals—one for 155 homes off Oak Road, Littlethorpe and another for 41 homes off Gillam Butts, Countesthorpe—have been recommended for approval by planning officers despite strong objections from local residents, parish councils, and Green Party campaigners.

Littlethorpe Development (155 Homes, Oak Road)

This proposal, has faced considerable opposition, including from Narborough Parish Council, and Cosby Parish Council and concerns raised by Network Rail. Key concerns include:

Traffic and the Level Crossing

One of the biggest concerns is the impact on the already congested level crossing at Station Road, Narborough. Network Rail were consulted on the application and did not raise an objection, but they expressed concerns regarding Narborough Level Crossing. They stated: ‘The safety of railway level crossings and all crossing users is of paramount importance to us and we would have concerns over any proposed scheme that would increase the usage and risk of a railway crossing.’

Despite this, there are currently no confirmed mitigation measures in place. Improvements to the level crossing are not realistically possible, as previous proposals for step-free crossings such as lifts have already been ruled out, including in plans for the Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange (HNRFI). This means that residents of Littlethorpe and Narborough could face longer delays and increased traffic spillover onto surrounding roads with no viable infrastructure solution.

Access & Road Safety

Littlethorpe is not well served by major roads, and the development proposes only one access point via Oak Road, a narrow, residential street. With emergency vehicles, bin lorries, and general traffic, many question whether the road infrastructure can handle the extra demand.

The Local Highway Authority (LHA) has acknowledged that the development exceeds the usual threshold of 150 homes for a single access point, yet has not objected on this basis. Additionally, refuse vehicles may be required to use both sides of the road when turning, which could cause temporary traffic disruption.

The B4114 / Desford Road roundabout will see increased congestion by 2029, with significant traffic impact during peak hours. As a result, the developer is required to propose a mitigation scheme, though details remain unclear.

A £50,000 contribution towards cycling and walking routes has been proposed, but there is no certainty that this will significantly improve connectivity to Narborough Station or local schools. Without viable alternatives to car travel, the development risks increasing car dependency in an area already struggling with congestion.

Flooding & Drainage

Although the site is in Flood Zone 1, residents have reported increasing instances of surface water flooding nearby. The Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SuDS) proposed by the applicant is untested, and there has been no independent verification that it will prevent water runoff from affecting existing homes.

Severn Trent Water (STW) has confirmed that foul water capacity is available, subject to a Section 106 agreement, but surface water drainage remains unresolved. The developer is required to pursue a connection to a nearby watercourse, meaning there is still a risk of flooding issues if a viable drainage solution cannot be secured.

Green Space & Policy CS18 Conflict

Blaby District’s Core Strategy Policy CS18 protects countryside land from inappropriate development. The Littlethorpe site is clearly in the open countryside and is not allocated for housing in the Local Plan. However, due to Blaby’s inability to demonstrate a 5-year housing land supply, national planning policy (the ‘presumption in favour of sustainable development’) may be used to justify overriding local protections.

Many local campaigners, including Blaby Green Party, disagree with this approach, arguing that housing shortfalls should be met by prioritising brownfield sites and sustainable locations, rather than eroding village boundaries and green spaces.

Countesthorpe Development (41 Homes, Gillam Butts)

While the Countesthorpe development is smaller, it still raises serious concerns about traffic, infrastructure, and sustainability.

Highways & Road Capacity

The single access route via Hallcroft Avenue means that all traffic from the development will feed into Station Road, already a busy commuter route. The Local Highway Authority has highlighted that the number of dwellings served by this junction exceeds recommended thresholds, yet no junction improvements have been proposed as a condition of approval.

Local Services Under Pressure

Greenfield Primary School is already full, and Countesthorpe Health Centre has stated it cannot expand—yet financial contributions towards education (£225,778) and healthcare (£31,750) have been suggested without a clear strategy on how they would be used to create additional capacity.

What Happens Next?

Given that several applications, including in Cosby and Countesthorpe, have already been approved due to the lack of a 5-year housing supply, this continues to set a dangerous precedent for further speculative applications on greenfield sites. Both proposals have been recommended for approval largely due to the district’s lack of a 5-year housing land supply, meaning developers can exploit national planning policies to push through housing in unsustainable locations.

Blaby Green Party believes that new housing should be genuinely sustainable—well-connected to public transport, with supporting infrastructure in place before development begins. These applications do not currently meet those basic principles.

How You Can Get Involved

• Attend the Planning Committee meeting on 13th February to hear the discussion and voice concerns.
• Contact your district councillors and let them know your thoughts before they vote.
• Push for better planning policies that prioritise brownfield development and sustainable infrastructure.
• Join the Green Party campaign: We are calling for a sustainable housing strategy that protects our villages and green spaces while ensuring the right homes are built in the right places.

With the Leicestershire County Council elections approaching in May 2025, residents have a real chance to influence county-wide policies that impact transport, infrastructure, and environmental planning. Green Party candidates will be standing in every division across Leicestershire, advocating for sustainable infrastructure, improved public transport, and policies that support well-planned development.

If you share these concerns, get in touch or join our campaign!

Final Note

We strive to ensure that all facts and figures in my articles are accurate. However, like everyone, we can and do make mistakes. This article is provided with errors and omissions excepted (E&OE).

If you spot an error or have additional information that could improve this analysis, please feel free to contact us via email contact@blaby.greenparty.org.uk. Constructive feedback is always welcome!

The post Planning Update – Week Ending 8th February 2025 appeared first on Blaby Green Party.

I was pleased to accept an invitation to meet with representatives from Miller Homes’ development communications team. They had previously met with residents of Elliot Close and Wright Close, whose homes were flooded during heavy rain caused by Storm Henk in January this year.

The proposed development site on Springwell Lane, is located on land approximately 8–10 metres higher than the flooded area, though within 400 metres of it. The site lies on fields that frequently flood, raising valid concerns about whether the new construction would exacerbate water retention issues.

As with most modern developments, the project includes a Sustainable Drainage System (SuDS). In this case, the SuDS design incorporates a large pond at the lowest point of the site, near Springwell Lane, where water currently drains from the field. This pond is intended to provide the same water retention as the existing field, with an additional 40% capacity to account for climate change. This approach appears to be standard practice, as I have heard similar commitments at other recent planning proposal presentations.

Researching who is responsible for approving the design and overseeing the construction of SuDS in England can be quite confusing. While SuDS Approval Boards (SAB) were established in Wales in 2019, the process for County Councils in England to take on a similar role is only now beginning to take shape, I have asked Leicestershire County Council who are the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA), if they have now taken on the SAB role as the website does not make this clear.

When questioned about the maintenance of the SuDS, the representatives stated that their preference would be for it to be adopted by Severn Trent Water. If that is not possible, the County Council would be the next option. If neither of these options is viable, responsibility would be handed over to a management company for long-term upkeep.

Other topics discussed included the potential closure of Springwell Lane beyond the estate to vehicular traffic, allowing access for cyclists and pedestrians only. Given that this single-track road already has blind bends and is considered dangerous, the increased traffic from the development would likely worsen the situation.

The issue of gas supply to the new houses was also raised, especially given that gas installations will be banned from 2027. I expressed my view that including gas connections should not be considered.

The potential for solar panels on the new homes was another point of discussion. The representatives mentioned that Miller Homes has begun installing solar panels on some properties, though many buyers remain uncertain about their cost-effectiveness. This highlights the need for greater public education on the benefits and payback of solar technology. Interestingly, the representatives noted that estate designers are advocating for house orientations, such as south-facing roofs, and layouts that support solar panel installation. However, the current proposed layout does not appear to fully capitalise on this potential.

I was informed that 25% of the development will consist of social housing. These homes will be distributed across the site in clusters of no more than six properties each. While this exceeds the requirements set down by Blaby District Council, it is disappointing that a greater proportion is not being targeted at first-time buyers or those looking to downsize, as this could better address wider housing needs.

Finally, the representatives confirmed that the application will be a full planning submission, rather than an outline one, to accelerate the development process. Given the absence of a five-year housing supply within the Blaby District, applications like this are more likely to be approved.

The representatives said they would produce a Frequently Asked Questions document based on the residents questions and those I raised. I will link this to the post when I receive it.

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The post Planning Update Week Ending 14th December 2024 appeared first on Blaby Green Party.

The website detailing the proposal for a development on Broughton Road in Cosby has been updated to include the outline of the site boundaries alongside some other details. The developer also hosted an event for the public to view the proposal at the Village Hall in Cosby on 5th December 2024.

Planning refusal Aston Flamville

An application (24/0595/FUL) to build 2 houses in Aston Flamville within Blaby District has been refused for numerous reasons detailed in the decision notice, including a lack of access to public transport and safe active travel routes.

How can you help?

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The post Planning Update Week Ending 7th December 2024 appeared first on Blaby Green Party.

Today’s meeting showed clearly Blaby District Council’s current difficult position with respect to considering applications for new housing developments. This was particularly true for application 24/0001/OUT, a proposal to build 185 new houses at a site on Willoughby Road in Countesthorpe. This proposal was previously brought before the Planning Committee in October, with an intention to build 205 houses, but was deferred back to the Planning Officers as concerns were raised about how many new houses were being crammed into the space, and also about the current state of flooding and foul water removal from the local residential area. Local residents reported that the current removal was already inadequate, to the point of raw sewerage on occasion backing up into homes. A proposal for 110 houses on the same site was rejected a number of years ago.

In addition to the concerns noted the proposed development was to be built on land considered as open countryside and outside of the boundaries of Countesthorpe, a location that had already exceeded its commitment to new house numbers as identified in Blaby’s own Local Plan for new housing developments in the District.

Under normal circumstances these alone would be good reasons to refuse the application. However, Blaby at the moment does not have a “5-year land supply”. This means that Blaby does not at present have a pipeline of land available for 5 years worth of house-building. According to the Government’s own rules for house-building (the National Planning Policy Framework or NPPF), this situation means that Blaby’s own guidelines, laid out in the Local Plan, are essentially now to be considered “out of date” and ignored if the proposal put forwards by a developer is considered as “sustainable” and conforms to the NPPF. This position was confirmed by the Planning Officers when I questioned them directly this evening. The NPPF gives a broad definition of the objective of sustainable development as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

Blaby’s Planning Officers are required to recommend that planning permission for a proposed development be given if it has been shown to be sustainable and the disadvantages of completing the development do not significantly outweigh the benefits, irrespective of what Blaby’s own Local Plan states. Blaby’s Planning Officers refer to this position as a “tilted balance in favour of acceptance.” This phrase that is likely to be heard at every Planning Committee meeting for the foreseeable future, because the new Labour Government is set to demand even greater numbers of new houses from District Councils than the previous Conservative administration, and will update the NPPF to make it even easier for developers to get their proposals accepted. I expect to see a flow of proposals from house builders, that have never been part of Blaby’s own Local Plan for development, that may have been previously submitted for consideration but refused, and that may well contain features that would normally warrant refusal.

For a Blaby Planning Committee to refuse an application at the moment, when Planning Officers have recommended acceptance, it must have very solid reasoning, based on rules set out in the NPPF, that demonstrates more disadvantages in completing the housing development than advantages. To not have this reasoning, even when common sense screams that the proposal is wrong, means that the Council will likely face an appeal to the National Inspector by the house builder that it will probably lose. Such a loss could cost Blaby District Council hundreds of thousands of pounds, money that should be spent on services for our residents. You may start to understand how the Planning Committee is fighting with at least one hand tied behind its back.

And so back to tonight’s meeting. In my opinion Severn Trent had not satisfactorily offered a means by which current and future residents of the local area could live without fear of raw sewerage back-flowing into their properties due to an inadequate system of foul water removal. For me, and interpreting the NPPF definition given, the development was unsustainable. I do not believe it is acceptable to give permission for such a proposal on the promise of some system modelling being undertaken at some point in the future, and for these reasons I voted against the proposal. I was one of 4 councillors who voted against, but permission was granted based on the deciding vote of the Chairman of the Planning Committee.

As a councillor I understand the need for more housing and for a 5 year land supply to be restored so that Blaby District Council can once more operate under its own rules. It is hoped that this situation will be the case once the New Local Plan is published in the next 1-2 years, and I will work hard to ensure that this plan offers the best and fairest framework for new housing in Blaby going forwards.

As a Green Councillor I will always push for this housing to be more energy efficient, with a higher proportion of social/affordable homes, targeted to reclaimed brownfield sites where possible, that works for our people and our environment.
The right houses, in the right places, at the right price!

How can you help?

If you would like to support our work further, please consider joining us, unlike the other major political parties we are not funded by wealthy individuals or companies, so we are free to speak without outside influence.

The post Thoughts on Planning Committee meeting 28/11/24 appeared first on Blaby Green Party.

A leaflet has been circulated around Cosby this week from Bloor Homes this outlines a proposal for 180 dwellings west of Broughton Road in Cosby, as we reported over a month ago surveying work going on at this location it appears now that this was related to a housing development.

Although the site location is not detailed beyond the words on the leaflet / website further details will be added to the website after the developers hold a public exhibition to provide further details about the proposals and an opportunity for you to speak with the project team.This will take place on Thursday 5th December 2024, from 3pm to 7pm at Cosby Village Hall, Park Road, Cosby LE9 1RN.

The site is likely to cover some of the site allocated for housing (up to 366 dwellings) in the last review of Blaby District Council’s local plan in 2019. Image below from the map of housing developments maintained by Mike Jelfs.

New Planning Application 19 houses for Sharnford

Following on from a planning application for 134 houses in the village earlier this month another smaller for 19 houses in Sharnford has been submitted this week.

185 house Development Approved in Countesthorpe

The Development in Willoughby Road was approved by the casting vote on the Chairman at the Blaby District Council Planning Committee meeting this Thursday. Read the thoughts of Tony Deakin our Councillor on the Planning Committee

How can you help?

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The post Planning Update Week Ending 30th November 2024 appeared first on Blaby Green Party.

After the proposal for 125 new homes in South Whetstone in last weeks update , this week we have an actual application validated for 68 houses to be built in an adjacent site but accessed off Wright Close. After the flooding in the area earlier this year, I suspect this application will raise some concerns. The image below is from the map of housing developments I maintain.

Update on Keepers Farm proposed development

After we reported the submission of a Environmental Impact Assessment Application for a proposed development of 350 houses between Blaby and Countesthorpe back at the beginning of the month the story was picked up by the BBC. They report this week that Blaby District Council has ruled that no assessment is needed. so clearing the way for the submission of an outline planning application.

Update on 200 house Development at blaby Golf Course

Amongst the documents added to the application recently, is a response from the Lead Flood Authority (Leicestershire County Council). To quote from the document.

The catchment to the west includes a basin which proposes to hold water above existing ground
levels which raises concerns with risk to surrounding development in the case of earthworks
failure at this location. It is noted that the east catchment basin is also partially bunded above
existing ground levels. Every effort must be made to lower any storage required in this area and
to mitigate against earthworks failure.

With the concerns of flooding in the local area, it will be interesting to see if the plans are amended in response to these comments.

It also worth noting that a HIGHWAYS RESPONSE ADDENDUM has also been added by the developer, which appears to respond to concerns about the new link road between Lutterworth Road and Winchester Road being used as a short cut.

The post Planning Update Week Ending 23rd November 2024 appeared first on Blaby Green Party.

We were expecting the next review of the New Local Plan for Blaby District to be before Christmas, but I received this update on the 14th November 2024 via email from Blaby District Council.

The timeline for our new Local Plan, which will guide future development across the District, has been updated following a review of Government proposals to change the national planning system.

The Government is planning changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) including compulsory housing targets and changed policies. To make sure our new Plan meets these changes, we now aim to produce the next version, known as the Regulation 19 version, by July 2025.

This version is a full draft that we will consult on, asking residents, businesses and communities their views on proposals for development across the District until 2041.

After public consultation the Local Plan will be put to the Planning Inspectorate for examination by an independent inspector.

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Planning application submitted for A Solar Farm

Plans have now been submitted to Blaby District Council for a Solar Farm in 201 acres (81 hectares) of land at Soars Lodge Farm in Foston., near Countesthorpe. This BBC News Article Covers the Story. the documents associated to this application are available here on BDC Website ref 24/0734/FUL.

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125 new houses in Whetstone

This is a planning proposal by Miller Homes (not yet a formal application) for 125 houses at the south end of the village on Springwell Lane (in yellow in the image below). This covers part of a site for up to 770 homes (in purple in the image below) which was included in the last review of the local plan. Image from a map of sites maintained by Mike Jelfs

The post Planning Update Week Ending 16th November 2024 appeared first on Blaby Green Party.

As reported by Countesthorpe Parish Council on Facebook, after the deferral at a recent Blaby District Council (BDC) Planning Meeting.

 'Planning Application, 24/0001/OUT Outline Planning application for up to 185 dwellings with access point from Willoughby Road. Further to this application being deferred by the District Council’s Planning Committee due to concerns about the density and clarification on issues relating to the sewerage system, please note that the number of dwellings from the original application has now reduced from 205 to 185. As the application is outline, there will be no further consultation carried out by the District Council. There are additional documents available on the District Council’s website. This also includes correspondence between the applicant and Severn Trent Water. As there is not further correspondence, it would be expected that this will be put to another Blaby District Council Planning Committee meeting so anyone interested in attending or making representation are advised to monitor the District Council's Meeting Calendar.'

Further to the above it appears that Severn Trent Water are happy to take on any remedial work required to the sewage system required by the new development. To quote from the correspondence on the BDC website.

 'Any issues highlighted are for Severn Trent to investigate further and then decide if changes to our infrastructure are required.

The post Planning Update Week Ending 9th November 2024 appeared first on Blaby Green Party.

Lutterworth Road, Blaby

The District Council Planning Committee Meeting this week on the 31st, with the smaller housing development 23/0968/OUT next to and including part of Blaby Golf Course recommended for approval, despite objections from many fearing that this will make approval of the larger 200 house development, replacing the course completely more likely. It is noted however that the only public speaker at the meeting was from the developer. The outcome of the Planning meeting was to approve the development.

Little Glen Road, Glen Parva

A second application for 31 affordable houses on Little Glen Road, Glen Parva, despite worries expressed about flooding, pedestrian safety and the distance away from public transport links the decision was to approve the development.

New Applications

Joining Blaby to Countesthorpe?

It is interesting to see that the fields on the opposite side of Winchester Road, at the back of Blaby Golf Course are now subject of a new planning application for 350 houses, covering Keepers Farm in Blaby [image above], this if approved will fully connect Blaby with Countesthorpe. The site was included in the last review of the New Local Plan for up to 300 houses, the outline planning permission application was not yet on the website at the time of writing but the associated application 24/10/EIASCR | Environmental Impact Assessment Screening Opinion for the proposed residential development (Class C3) of 350 dwellings. | Keepers Farm Winchester Road Blaby Leicester Leicestershire LE8 4HN . is.

Extending Sharnford…

Another development of 134 houses in Sharnford was validated this week, this is on land that was not part of the New Local Plan review in 2019 and is partly outside the current village boundary.. 24/0834/OUT | Outline planning application for a.) provision of up to 134 dwellings constituting up to 43 Affordable Housing units, up to 75 Open Market Housing units and up to 16 serviced plots for self-build and custom housebuilding, b.) hedge and tree removal with (re)planting where relevant, c.) provision of a mobility hub and d.) with all matters reserved except access. | Land North Of Leicester Road Sharnford Leicestershire . sorry no photo of this, as it was a bit murky to cycle all the way over, an image from my google map is shown below.

Decision notices posted this week include.

The acceptance of the 170 House Development in Foston Lane, Countesthorpe (23/1071/OUT)

The Withdrawal During Consideration of 23/0316/FUL | Erection of 16 No. flats and 1 No. retail unit with associated parking and access onto Broad Street (to include demolition of existing filling station and workshop). | Mpk Filling Station Cross Street Enderby Leicestershire LE19 4AA

And finally ….

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The post Planning update Week Ending 2nd November 2024 appeared first on Blaby Green Party.