160 new Anstey homes approved

PLANS for 160 homes in Anstey have been given the go ahead by Charnwood borough councillors - despite being turned down in the past.

The borough’s plans committee met on Wednesday, May 3, to discuss an application for homes that are to be built on the land off Cropston Road, Anstey.

Outline planning permission was granted in November 2015 but a more detailed application was refused in September 2016 due to concerns over housing mix and design.

The latest application was brought to the committee at the request of Coun Deborah Taylor as she worried there would be too many social houses surrounding an existing farm.

However a document presented to the meeting stated the proposals have now been amended and alterations have been made to the housing mix and to the layout to lessen the impact on the farm.

Mr Mark Rose, of Define Planning, spoke at the meeting on behalf of applicant Bloor Homes Limited, Cynthia Spence and Nicholas Wells.

He told the committee “careful consideration” had been given to the layout and dwellings to address concerns.

At the meeting, Coun Taylor said: “I will not object to this for once. There’s been some major changes by the developer but we can’t ignore that residents are surrounded by new developments.”

Coun Taylor did raise concerns over a “tucked away” planned play area as did Coun Jenni Tillotson who said: “It’s not to my mind sufficiently overlooked to be a safe area for children to play.”

Coun Brenda Seaton said: “It’s good to see the developers and the planning officers have achieved the level of alterations they have.

“If the parents are worried, they can go down to the park with their children which they should do when they’re under a certain age anyway.”

A unanimous decision was made by the committee to approve the application.