More than 100 homes with the decision of old engineering works

A decision is to be made on more than a hundred homes proposed for an ancient engineering work and conversion of an 18th-century cottage and outbuildings. Charnwood Borough Council will consider Bloor Homes’ plans for Queniborough Lodge and the former Shield Engineering works, which share land in Melton Road between Syston and Queniborough.

The cottage was the subject of a fire earlier this year. In planning application documents submitted in 2022, the building was described as the “focal point for the development”. If the plan is approved, the cottage will be converted into a three-bedroom house. A further seven properties will be created from existing annexes.

The bulk of the homes – 104 – would be on land behind the lodge, which will be known as Queniborough Meadows. A further 15 larger detached houses would be built in front of the cottage in an area called Queniborough Paddocks. A new access road would be created from Melton Road, with the current access removed.

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Planning permission was previously granted for 135 homes on the site in 2015, but that planning consent has now expired.

The cottage dates back to the late 1700s and has a number of outbuildings from the 1800s. If the council’s planning committee gives approval, then planning officers recommend the council seek a package of investment in local services and amenities by the developer worth over 2 million pounds.

The engineering works were built in the latter half of the 20th century and were occupied by Shield Engineering, which was founded in 1949 and specializes in castings and machine assemblies. The company now has a number of bases in the UK, the nearest being in nearby Syston.

A 20th-century building called Lodge Cottage, which sits at the entrance to the site, would be demolished as part of the plan. In a report to the committee, the council’s planning officers deemed the cottage “of no special architectural or historical interest”. A heritage report submitted by Bloor Homes to the council in 2022 revealed it was the only building that was occupied at the time.

Five objections have been raised to the council about the proposed scheme by local residents, whose concerns include motorway safety, the impact on local services, the loss of green space and an increased risk of flooding.

The planning officers’ report states: “In conclusion, it is considered that there are no impacts of the development of this site which cannot be mitigated and which would be so significant and demonstrably harmful as to outweigh the benefits of ensuring the regeneration of brownfield land. site for the provision of housing in this sustainable location.”

The item will be decided by the council’s planning committee at its next meeting on Thursday afternoon.

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