Plans back on the table for North Kilworth development after hundreds object
New plans have been unveiled for a 49-home development in North Kilworth, previously described as ‘not safe’ by a parish councillor.
A previous application from Herring, Herring, Herring, Philips and Caddick Residential Ltd, presented to Harborough District Council last July, was refused amid dozens of objections.
At the time, officers said harms from the potential development on land south of Station Road “outweighed the recognised benefits”, and councillors at the meeting voted unanimously to reject the proposals on the grounds that it would be visually intrusive to the area.
Addressing councillors at the planning committee held on Tuesday, July 21, parish councillor Michael Southam said 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.”
An online petition raised by one of the villagers has now reached 700 signatures. In it, the resident claims 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”.
Now, new plans have been submitted for the same plot of land by the original applicants, with the same details as the previous 2025 application.
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service about the most recent plans, the petition owner said: “It’s on an area of land that floods in one corner. The drainage issues have not been correctly met at all.
“The village shop is a petrol station convenience store, there’s no fresh food, no baby items. So if you find yourself in one of the 49 homes, at seven O’clock at night, and you’ve got no car, you’re going to need to walk along a narrow verge to Husbands Bosworth to get yourself some baby items.
“There’s been no improvement to the village in terms of businesses since they submitted the [previous] report. It doesn’t have the infrastructure and you’re infilling between conservation areas. We will be resubmitting our objections.
“Leicestershire villages are being paved over and the prominent farming county is losing its fields with no regard for lack of infrastructure or the negative effects on the environment which surrounds these beautiful villages.”
Plans include 13 affordable and 14 market homes planned to be delivered in phase one, with nine affordable and 13 market homes delivered in phase two. The proposals include a central spine road providing the main access through the development.
An objection from the parish council has been submitted for the latest plans, in addition to an objection from a neighbour. In it, the resident writes: “My objection is based on the recent refusal of a substantially similar development, the continuing conflict with adopted planning policies, and the apparent failure to demonstrate that the fundamental planning concerns identified by Harborough District Council have been overcome.”
A Caddick spokesperson said: “We have submitted a new application for this site because we would prefer a locally made decision by Harborough District Council, rather than an appeal.
“We believe this scheme has a strong planning case and will deliver 49 much-needed new homes. The council cannot currently show a five-year housing land supply, which Government requires. This site would help meet the local housing needs of the area and close that gap.
“This scheme also provides a significant number of affordable homes, in a village where many people struggle to buy or rent locally.
“We will continue to work with the council in the hope of securing a positive, local decision.”
Consultation on the plans closes on Tuesday, November 10. A decision is expected by Monday, January 4, 2027.