Minded to refuse Peckleton Lane plan
COUNCILLORS have said they are minded to refuse a proposal for an estate of 80 houses on the outskirts of Desford.
The outline proposal for the 3.76 hectare site off Peckleton Lane includes 48 market houses and 32 intermediate properties.
The planning committee made the decision as it deemed the development would cause “demonstrable harm on character of the area”.
It gives the applicant, Richard West, an opportunity to address the concerns of committee members prior to the next planning meeting.
Members cannot refuse an application in the first instance when an officer has recommended it for approval.
The market homes would include 14 two-bedroom, 14 three-bedroom and 20 four or more-bedroom properties.
Intermediate houses in the estate would include 8 one-bedroom houses, 11 two-bedroom houses, 11 threebedroom houses and two properties with four bedrooms or more.
Desford Parish Council objected to the proposal, claiming it would increase car parking in the village centre and that Desford has more housing than is needed.
The authority also raised concerns that it would increase traffic outside of Desford Community Primary School and that the access road would be on the brow of a hill.
Letters of support said that the project would help meet need for housing, especially shared ownership for young people and affordable housing.
A design statement filed with the application said the development would have an average net density of around 21 dwellings per hectare.
Many of the houses would be served by on-plot parking located to the side, front or rear of the dwelling, with disabled parking and cycle parking to be provided “in accordance with the appropriate standards”.
Vehicles would access the site from off Peckleton Lane where a gated farm road is currently in place.
An area of open space is proposed around the perimeter of the site and along the public footpath which forms the southern boundary of the site.
The location is just up the road from Sport in Desford and the Neovia and Caterpillar bases and is bordered to the north by houses on Peckleton View and Meadow Way.