130-home plan near recently approved Lidl gets the green light by Harborough District Council
Plans to build 130 new homes near a recently approved Lidl store have been given the green light by Harborough District Council (HDC).
Chloe French of Roebuck Land and Planning put forward the application for land east of Zouche Way in Bushby.
The outline application, which has been approved in principle by HDC with detailed plans to follow, is for land north of the A47 (Uppingham Road).
Presenting the report, planning officers noted that works had already started on the approved Lidl store, and both fields outlined for the homes were currently in pasture.
Alongside the 130 homes, officers said plans include public open space and sustainable drainage systems.
Officers provided images of the master plan for the 6.9-acre site, explaining that the application was not seeking approval for the detailed plans, but was included to give an indication of how the sites could be developed, and to show that the amount of development proposed could be accommodated on the site.
Key access points for vehicles were also included in the plans, including a new access onto Uppingham Road, which was being submitted for approval.
The possibility of two new access points onto Zouch Way and one onto Harcourt Grove were also presented.
Documents note of the 130 dwellings, up to 40 per cent would be ‘affordable homes’ and include the possibility of one and two-bedroom bungalows. The market housing mix proposes a range of two, three, and four-bedroom houses, they add.
Roebuck Land and Planning notes that the proposed development is expected to be mainly two-storey, with some three-storey and bungalow provision. The development will include a mix of detached, semi-detached and terraced properties, the plans state.
Documents note that a total of 63 letters were distributed to neighbours in December 2025, with site notices also being posted in the area.
A total of 29 objections were raised, with many residents concerned about issues relating to highways, landscape and visual issues, flooding and drainage, and residential amenity.
Thurnby and Bushby Parish Council submitted a neutral response, along with a concern relating to “increased risk of flooding to existing residences close by, which will likely be worsened if this development goes ahead”.
Speaking at the meeting, Chloe French said: “This is a policy-led, sustainable scheme that will help meet an identified housing need, deliver affordable homes, secure local investment and protect key landscape features that define this edge of village location.
“The application has no statutory consultee objections, and we have been actively engaged throughout the planning process, including through the emerging local plan, pre-application discussions, consultation with local residents.
“As a result, the scheme has evolved to respond to the comments and incorporate changes where possible. The scheme will deliver up to 130 dwellings, including 52 affordable homes.
“The layout also retains a soft gateway into the village by setting development back from the A47 and using the landscape features to provide an appropriate transition between the settlement edge and the surrounding countryside”.
HDC planning committee unanimously agreed for the plans to go forward at its meeting on Tuesday, July 21.