‘Reasonable’ village homes plan approved by councillors
DETAILED plans for 135 houses approved on appeal have been passed, despite councillors expressing disappointment at their decision being overturned.
Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council received hundreds of objections to the original application by Davidsons Homes to build the estate at Deepdale Farm on Lutterworth Road, Burbage.
At a planning committee meeting last week, councillors voted to approve the second application, which gave more details about the size and type of houses, as well landscaping and open spaces.
Councillor Barry Walker, who spoke against the first application when it was refused, said: “I’m not happy that the refusal was overturned on appeal. But we have to face what we face.”
The original application attracted 224 letters of objection. One resident said: “Burbage was a village and is now a small town.”
Only eight objectors responded to the latest plans, expressing concerns over highway safety and the pressure on local facilities. There was also a letter of support and a neutral comment.
The plans include a play area, footpaths and open spaces, with Davidsons promising to retain sections of “ridge and furrow” earthworks – archaeological remnants of Medieval ploughing – and to provide most of the homes with charging points for electric vehicles.
Councillor Paul Williams said it was unfortunate that Leicestershire County Council’s Highways team didn’t share concerns over traffic issues.
“I still have reservations about the volume of traffic going into the village centre, not only from this application but from others,” he said.
“But that argument has been lost and I recognise the work that has gone into this layout, particularly the protection for the ridge and furrow, and more importantly the serious work that’s gone into the sound protection for the properties at the south close to the M69. Having accepted that we must proceed with this, I think it’s a reasonable application we’re considering tonight.”
In his 2021 ruling overturning the council’s refusal of the initial application, planning inspector Graham Wyatt said the scheme “would have only a modest adverse impact on the character and appearance of the countryside”.
Leader of the council Councillor Stuart Bray seconded the motion to approve the plans, but added that he
couldn’t say he was happy to do so. “The principle of development has been set by the appeal inspector and we are where we are on that,” he said.
“I have to say if we are going to have the development here, what’s being proposed looks fairly reasonable.”
Paul Waterfield, Davidsons Homes technical director, said the development was designed to a high standard. He pointed out that the company had changed some of their plans to provide the additional sound protection and to retain the historic ridge and furrow, with proposed public open space “resulting in an improved residential amenity for residents on Flamville Road”.