Major housing development recommended for approval

A 345-home development in an area of Leicestershire where residents saying traffic is already "horrendous" is set for approval.

The application would see houses and a country park developed at Keepers Farm, off Winchester Road, in Blaby, and includes the demolition of a farmhouse and several outbuildings.

But it has prompted more than 100 objections from locals and parish councils, with another resident saying: "They are not putting facilities in place to cope with the extra demand."

Blaby District Council (BDC) planning officers have recommended the scheme for approval, subject to conditions, and it will be discussed at its planning committee on 1 October.

The "hybrid" planning application seeks full planning permission for 77 houses, office or shops space and the associated demolition, alongside outline permission for up to 268 houses including 67 affordable homes, and a country park measuring 8.47 hectares.

Marie and Rob Amey, who live on Winchester Road, close to the development area, spoke to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Marie Amey said: "There's development planned on both sides of this road. There are too many houses already. It's not good for this road. There's no infrastructure.

"The traffic here is horrendous. If we want to go to the doctors, we have to leave 20 minutes early otherwise we can't get our car out, it's so busy.

The 75-year-old added: "There are developments already taking place in the area. They've got to think about the infrastructure."

Nearby, John Spiers, 89, said he had lived in the neighbouring village of Countesthorpe all his life.

He said: "When this was all fields it was flood land. Now we get flooding on Winchester Road and we are virtually cut off.

"We've got problems with doctors and dentists, and they are not putting facilities in place to cope with the extra demand."

A total of 105 objections have been raised against the scheme, quoting congestion, flooding, sewerage infrastructure, density of development and the pressure on schools, doctors and dentists.

Blaby and Countesthorpe parish councils have also objected to the plans over fears of "urban sprawl".

In a planning statement submitted with the application, developers Bonnel Homes and Woods Hardwick described Blaby as "a sustainable location for the proposed development".

Leicestershire County Council, acting as the local highways authority, said the impacts on the road network would "not be severe."

Similarly, the local lead flood authority had no objection to the plans, subject to conditions.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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