Fresh concerns emerge over new homes plan for dilapidated pub site

Plans to turn a former pub into a large family house and add two more homes to the site have been met with further objections. North West Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC) received an application in March to develop the site of The Angel Inn in Coleorton, near Coalville.

Coleorton Parish Council has objected to the plan because of the scale of the development and now local residents have added their own concerns about the changes. Many feel the three homes would change the look of the street and possibly open the door for further development in the village.

The plan submitted to NWLDC's planning department by Simon and Olivia Petty involves extending the former pub into a four-bed home, while also building two new houses on site - the four-bed Angel Cottage and the five-bed Angel House in the grounds surrounding the pub.

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A letter signed by 21 residents said the homes would "provide no community asset or public benefit". The joint letter, which was published this month, also sees residents believe the development will "cause harm to biodiversity and habitat".

Another resident was worried the scheme could lead to more housebuilding in the area if approved. They said: "It may create an opening for more properties to be built, this eventually turning a village in to a large estate which would be out of character and far from the ideal view of those within the area.

"There has also been a concern that those owning land behind the public house may take advantage and continue the road again making it possible to build further developments."

Others were fearful about the impact on already limited amenties within Coleorton itself and the speed of development in the area. They said: "Coleorton Moor and the surrounding villages remain a hot spot for both ‘self-build’ and ‘build for profit’ planning applications from greedy developers and landowners keen to abuse the tendency for large vacant garden spaces in this area and attempt to seek short-term financial gain at the expense of their neighbours and the local environment.

"The area, the facilities and the local infrastructure are just not capable of sustaining this level of development within a small rural setting in such a short period of time and the level of disingenuous applications for new-build property is totally out of control in the area."

In their application, the Pettys said the pub, which closed about two years ago, was no longer viable and that attempts to sell it had failed. But since their first application, several changes have been made to the plans, including scaling down the pub extension.

NWLDC will decide on the plan at a later date.