Controversial 185-home estate next to Leicestershire village set for approval

A controversial plan to build an additional 185 homes on the edge of a Leicestershire village is set for approval tomorrow (Thursday, November 28). Davidsons Developments has put forward the plan for land East of Willoughby Road, Countesthorpe.

The developer originally indicated to to Blaby District Council that it wanted to build 205 homes on the site, which is two fields off Willoughby Road. The number has now been lowered to 185 homes, following advice from the council's planning committee to reduce the "density" of the development.

The planning application states that the total area of the development would remain at 7.87 hectares, the equivalent of 11 full-size football pitches. A total of 623 letters of representation were received for the original plans, 612 of which objected to the application, six were neutral and four supported the application.

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Countesthorpe Parish Council is among the objectors. It said: "You will read a lot of comments from residents about lack of school places, inability to get an appointment at the health centre, the long queues to get in and out of the village at peak times, lack of leisure facilities, flooding, sewage problems, the strength of roads, the width of the pavements, the danger on the roads. They are real, lived consequences of Countesthorpe's infrastructure being already overloaded."

Fellow objector Blaby Parish Council said: "Blaby Parish Council's concerns would be the increased traffic through the village and also the additional pressure the development will put on the local amenities and services. Roads are already very congested, especially if there has been an accident on the motorway or when the roads are flooded. [...] The infrastructure needs to be put in place otherwise Blaby will become gridlocked.”

Planning application documents state that 25 per cent of the homes - 46 - would be classed as 'affordable'. They would comprise eight one-bed, 16 two-bed, 14 three-bed, three four-bed homes and five bungalows. The remaining 139 properties would be available on the open market, made up of 43 two-bed, including some bungalows, 55 three-bed and 41 four+ bedroom homes.

The plans are due to be discussed at Blaby District Council's planning committee meeting tomorrow, Thursday, November 28. Planning officers have recommended the scheme be approved by councillors, subject to relevant conditions.

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