Controversial plans for new homes in North Kilworth have been refused

Dozens of objections – including from South Leicestershire MP Alberto Costa – were raised to the plan to build the homes on land south of Station Road with some claiming they would be “disproportionate” with the size of the village.

The outline plan, from Herring, Herring, Herring, Philips & Caddick Residential Ltd, was presented before Harborough District Council (HDC) whose officers said harms from the potential development “outweighed the recognised benefits”.

The proposed development site is approximately 0.4 miles from the centre of North Kilworth which has close access to the M1 and M6. The homes were planned to be delivered in two phases.

Documents said 13 affordable and 14 market homes were planned to be delivered in phase one, with nine affordable and 13 market homes delivered in phase two. The proposal included a central spine road planned to provide the main access through the development.

When it was first submitted, the plan raised much concern with villager Elizabeth Bains who started a petition which was signed by 159 other people last December.

She claimed North Kilworth’s amenities and infrastructure were already strained and further housing would “lead to increased pressure on our roads” as well as “bursting primary schools”.

She claimed that if approved, the homes would risk the “very essence of village life we have come to treasure”.

Speaking at the meeting, parish councillor Michael Southam said North Kilworth was a small village with only a very small shop attached to the petrol filling station.

He said: “The applicant would have you accept that the previous developments have led to an increase in the services available to the people of the village, but that’s not true.

“There have been 75 new houses in the last five years. And there’s been no increase, in fact, a reduction in the services available to the people who live there.

“The number of houses proposed is disproportionate to the size of the village. It’s a point that is made by the officers, and I agree with it.”

He also noted that access to the site was on a bend, adding: “Everyone in our village agrees it’s not safe. And the highway authority seems relaxed about it.

He added: “This development would deal a final blow to a particularly important rural view. Once removed, it’s gone forever.

Fellow objector Rachel Root opposed the plan on the grounds of water issues.

She said: “Water is at the very heart of this village. It flows in plentiful supply down the track from Cranmer Lane, where the pure, sparkling natural water source and a recognised heritage asset along with the spring chambers culminates at the box (part of the Victorian underground water system).

“Natural England and Harborough District Council valued this enough to designate it as a unique rare wetland nature reserve in 2006. Yet that designation has been overlooked in every previous planning application.”

She added: “North Kilworth is not a sustainable village. We have never had a surgery. The village shop closed, and then the post office.

“Every new household means more cars on our narrow roads.”

Councillors at the committee meeting held on Tuesday July 21, voted unanimously to reject the proposals.

HDC said: “The proposed development would completely change the character of this location by introducing substantial built form and associated infrastructure which, in the absence of any justification for occupying a countryside location, would constitute an unwarranted visual intrusion in this rural locality and be detrimental to the character and appearance of the open and natural edge to the village.”