Villagers fear the impact of new homes on green space
‘WE’RE BECOMING A SMALL COMMUTER TOWN WITHOUT THE STRUCTURE AND AMENITIES’
THE village of Markfield is becoming “a small commuter town without the structure and amenities”, fears a resident, as plans for 93 homes were given outline planning approval.
Penland Estates and RV Millington applied for outline planning permission to build the new homes on pastureland between Ashby Road and the A50, to the north of Markfield, in July.
The application has been given the go-ahead by Charnwood Borough Council’s planning committee after it was recommended for approval by the assigned officer.
The developers intend to create more than 200 parking spaces on the estate, with 40 per cent of the homes to be classed as affordable.
A traffic assessment filed with the plans said that the development would only “marginally increase” road delays.
The development straddles two boroughs, Hinckley and Bosworth and Charnwood, which is cause for concern for Markfield resident Spencer Dyer.
He said the planning decision was a “perverse” attempt to pass a planning application that would impact another council area without consideration of its own development plans.
Mr Dyer said: “I think this sets a really dangerous precedent that would allow any local authority to pass planning permission set partly in another local authority area.
“They know the impact it will cause on those communities and still made this perverse decision.”
Plans for 282 homes on fields to the south of London Road were approved in April, but residents fear the impact of additional traffic and pollution.
Mr Dyer said: “The impact on this community would be very severe, with the already agreed 290 homes development in the village, as voted for in the Markfield plan.
“The plan was well structured and fair to the needs of the local community and also the future housing needs set out by the Government.
“The land off Ashby Road is an area of open green space in an unspoilt area of the Charnwood Forest and whilst
this field is actually in Charnwood Borough – Ashby Road is the borderline – it is intrinsically in and part of Markfield village and will therefore have a significant impact upon the services and infrastructure of the village.” Another villager shared Mr Dyer’s views, saying: “This land was not allocated in the Markfield Neighbourhood Plan for good reason. “There are plenty of other areas that could be built on. There are already a significant number of houses being built on London road. “Does Markfield really need to have these extra houses on a greenfield site?” According to the planning application documents, the developers will be making a £512,132 donation towards Newtown Linford Primary School and £277,632 towards Brookvale Groby Learning Campus Secondary School, as well as contributions to the NHS, highways and the local library. One villager pointed out the pressure the extra houses and residents would put on the community. Another said: “Schools and GPs are already nearing, if not over, maximum capacity.
“Although the development is within Charnwood Borough Council, the nearest amenities to the development are in Markfield.
“The constant build within or adjacent to Markfield is turning the village into a small commuter town without the structure and amenities.
“It is making the people of the village that have lived here all of their lives feel like they no longer belong here.” What do you think about the homes plan? Tell us your views by emailing:
They know the impact it will cause and still made this perverse decision
Spencer Dyer, of Markfield