New village housing gets the green light
PLANS to build 42 homes in a village will go ahead after the Planning Inspectorate overturned Harborough District Council’s decision to refuse the development.
The homes will be constructed on land west of Lutterworth Road in Gilmorton – but changes will have to be made to the application and the developer will have to stick to strict conditions.
Councillor Julian Kent, chairman of Gilmorton Parish Council and the Gilmorton Neighbourhood Plan, said: “Our overall feelings are of disappointment and frustration.
“In 2011, there were 400 houses in the village. There will be 600 in the next couple of years – a growth of 50 per cent.
“The latest local plan said 25 houses was an appropriate number for Gilmorton.
“We were asked to draw up a neighbourhood plan but it’s hard not to wonder why we have when these decisions are made regardless of what we say.
“Will they just keep going until we join up with Lutterworth?”
The application was refused because the homes would be close to the village’s grade II-listed Church of All Saints.
Residents opposed the plans because of over development and traffic concerns.
The planning inspector’s report said: “The proposed development would result in a negative effect on the setting of the listed church and some conflict with the core strategy.
“However, when weighed against the benefits of the proposal, the development would be acceptable.
“For these reasons, and having had regard to all other matters raised, I conclude the appeal should be allowed.”
Developer Sheiling Homes will not be able to start construction until details of the appearance, landscaping, layout and scale have been submitted to the council and approved.
Other conditions include threebedroom houses on the site having two parking spaces and four-bedroom homes having three.
Ian Bullions, managing director at Sheiling Properties, said: “We’re delighted.
“The development will bring much-needed housing to the village. Every home will have solar panels and an air source heating system.
“We’ve worked on a site over the road that we’ve been nominated for a National House Building Council award for and we’ll bring that quality to the new development, too.”