1,500 homes have been approved, despite claims that warehouses will loom over homes

A massive housing estate for a Leicestershire town has been approved despite last-minute attempts to delay the decision over claims of 12m dumps looming over homes and a cemetery. Two planning applications for the Earl Shilton Sustainable Urban Extension (SUE) off Mill Lane in the town have been submitted to Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council by Bloor Homes, Jelson Homes and Barwood Land.

At the council’s planning committee on Tuesday, an opponent and the city’s two district councilors said employment land earmarked for the land as part of the development could mean building 12m-high warehouses just a meter from people’s properties. But the council’s planning chief said “that’s not right”, adding calls from objectors for a £30m buffer between possible warehouses and other uses for housing and the cemetery were not appropriate as they could actually be an even larger buffer is required.

Councilors approved both applications, with some members expressing sympathy for residents but saying their concerns should be addressed when the developer submits more detailed planning applications in the next stage of the process. Applications include employment land area as well as a new school, community center and retail space.

READ MORE: More homes announced for Leicestershire town, where 1,500 properties already to be approved

A total of nearly £22m has been pledged by developers for local services and amenities, with £18m for education, £1.1m for healthcare and £1.3m for improvements of Weavers Springs Sports Fields. Neil Ball, director of planning at WSP, who spoke on behalf of the developers, said they would also contribute to “travel options at the Desford junction” as well as a financial contribution that could be used to restore the service of bus number 1 scrapped.

But Sam Wilgress, a logistics developer who spoke against the plans at the meeting, raised the possibility that new buildings on the employment site would be built too close to existing homes on Union Mill Close. He said: “One meter from the boundary of residential housing and adjacent to a cemetery with bereaved families is unacceptable.” He called for the decision to be delayed for a “proper assessment of the operational effects”.

Ward councilor Claire Allen said: “I understand that the homes are needed particularly for young people and families.” But she added: “It is imperative that we get this right for residents. I don’t want to face a situation where there are grieving families and funerals next to industrial units.” She and fellow ward councilor Richard Allen called for a 30m buffer zone between the cemetery, houses in Union Mill Close and other sensitive locations near the development.

Councilor Richard Allen said he had “fought this development for more years than I care to count”. He added that he had concerns about a proposed new junction at Astley Road and said: “Those of you who know Earl Shilton will appreciate that much of the infrastructure is Victorian in origin and is already under severe pressure.” .

But Councilor Stuart Bray said: “I have a lot of sympathy for people who want to make sure there is adequate screening and tampons. I’m going to put up a sign now, both for our officers and for the applicant sitting in the room, to say that I personally will look very closely at this when he comes back if the committee approves it.”

Coun Bray also spoke about the current planning situation in Hinckley and Bosworth, saying: “We all know the government is asking us to deliver thousands of homes in this borough over the next few years. All we hear about any future government. , will not change. This is the uncomfortable truth we all have to face. In other words, we have no choice. You will need to allocate these sites.

Councilor Keith Lynch added: “41 years ago when I was first elected I would have given this about 90% of the proposals we have had to deal with in recent years. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to say that these are green fields and remain green fields? But the world as it is is not as we wish it to be.

“Here, at least, there’s a reasonable payoff, there’s a reasonable possibility of actually planning something that will be of use.”

Responding to concerns from objectors and ward councillors, Chris Brown, the council’s head of planning, said: “At no point do the plans in front of you show a building less than one meter as stated tonight . Is not correct.” He added of the requests to delay decisions: “We wouldn’t have brought it to committee if we didn’t feel it was ready. All I’m trying to suggest is that a delay I don’t think is going to get us any further.”

The applications were approved, one with 10 votes for, the other with 11. Both had three votes against and two abstentions.

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