Decision follows on controversial plan for 21 homes in derelict nursery

A decision is awaited on a plan to demolish a derelict kindergarten and build 21 homes on the site. If approved, the homes would be built on land belonging to the former Smarties Day Nursery in Enderby.

The existing kindergarten building on the site, described as “large” and “overgrown” by applicant Morro Partnerships, will be demolished. All the new homes would be classed as “affordable” housing, planning documents show.

There would be four one-bed houses, 10 three-bed houses and seven two-bed houses. Access to the site will be via the existing West Street entrance with a newly created road leading into the site. The original plans were for 22 houses, however these were reworked.

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The application has proved unpopular with local residents and was among the most objected to in the borough last year, data sent to LeicestershireLive by Blaby District Council revealed. Some 23 objections were received by the local authority.

Concerns included congestion and increased traffic in the area, disruption to possible neighbors during the construction phase, loss of trees within the scheme and limited capacity for local services such as doctors, schools and dental surgeries. However, despite these, planning officers have recommended that councilors on the authority’s planning committee approve the plan when they meet this evening (Thursday, May 9).

Officers said the new use would lead to fewer car journeys than if the site was still used as a nursery and Leicestershire County Council, as the highways authority did not object to the scheme. Because of this, they said they could not refuse it for traffic reasons.

They added that some objectors had suggested that an additional access be created near Salts Close and officers had discussed this with the complainant. However, the land is not owned by the developer, so this was deemed not possible.

Officers accepted there would be some disruption to neighbors during the construction phase and said “more information and safeguards are required to protect residential amenity” during construction work.

They advised councilors to attach a condition to any scheme approval requiring a new construction management plan to be submitted and approved by the authority before work can begin. However, officers added that the disruption would be “limited and short-term” and was “something that all developments generate”.

Officers also said the positioning of some of the new homes could impact on the amenity of their future residents. Three of the homes are said to be built too close to each other, which officers said was “not good design”. However, they felt that this negative aspect was outweighed by the benefits of the affordable housing scheme and the scheme should not be rejected on this issue alone.