Historic hall housing plans rejected again
PLANNING INSPECTOR THROWS OUT SCHEME
AN application to build four homes on the estate of a grade II-listed stately home has been thrown out again over conservation concerns.
The plans for four properties next to Burbage Hall were rejected by councillors at Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council in July 2020, over fears the development would ruin the character of the site.
However, developer Apricot CPS lodged an appeal asking for the proposal to be considered again.
Now, the Planning Inspectorate has turned down that appeal, saying the planned homes “would not preserve the character or appearance of the conservation area”.
The Burbage conservation area is based on the historic village core, around St Catherine’s Church and Church Street, Aston Lane, which includes the entrance to Burbage Hall, and The Horsepool.
The inspector said in his decision notice: “The development would significantly curtail the grounds associated with Burbage Hall.
“The scale, mass, density and layout of the dwellings and the hardsurfaced shared access drive serving them would form an intensive developed border to the resultant rear garden serving this listed building.
“The proliferation of window and door fenestration in combination with the subdivision of the proposed plots, associated boundary treatments and the hard-surfaced access drive would be overtly residential.
“Consequently, the development would fragment the southern and eastern perimeter of the grounds and would be harmful to the setting of Burbage Hall.”
Councillors were also concerned the height of three of the homes would result in a loss of privacy and amenity value for properties in DeLa-Bere Crescent. There were also worries about one of the properties being close to a medieval pond and the potential environmental impact this could have.
The developer has now filed amended plans for three homes, removing the house that would be built nearest the estate entrance and nearest the hall. Each property would have its own garage and garden, with the hall estate to be separated from the homes by railings.