Councillors reject controversial scheme to build new homes in Great Bowden

The Barwood Homes blueprint to create the estate on the Bowden Fencing site off Leicester Lane was thrown out by Harborough council’s planning committee on Tuesday night.

They voted by an overwhelming seven votes to two to reject the under-fire application at the virtual meeting.

Councillors acted after the local authority scrapped the previous planning committee meeting on Tuesday June 2 because of a catastrophic technical breakdown.

At that meeting councillors voted by five to four to back the contentious 33-home initiative – which was supported by planning officers.

Today jubilant Cllr Phil Knowles, who represents Great Bowden on the district council, told the Harborough Mail: “I am absolutely delighted that the planning committee has rejected this proposed big development.

“The people of Great Bowden will be breathing a huge sigh of relief.”

Cllr Knowles, who leads the council’s Liberal Democrat opposition, spoke out against the ambitious plan at Tuesday night’s critical meeting.

“This pivoted to an extent on the interpretation of the term ‘windfall site’.

“This was said to be a windfall site,” said the senior district councillor.

“But two to three new homes is a windfall site – not 33.

“That’s a huge number of new houses.

“Great Bowden’s infrastructure is already seriously creaking, if not collapsing altogether.

“If this application had gone forward it would have been contrary to Great Bowden Parish Council’s well thought-out and put together Neighbourhood Plan.

“That’s a valid document and stands on its own merits.

“This was one housing application too many.

“I am very pleased that the planning committee councillors listened to all the arguments and voted to block this – it was a very important night for Great Bowden.”

Objector Carolyn Ford told members that the historic village to the north-east of Market Harborough had accepted 203 new homes against a locally set target of zero.

She said there was no need to develop the Woodyard as she argued the parish council’s Neighbourhood Plan had to be supported.

Fellow objector Peter Mitchell said Bowden Fencing, whose base would have been built on, is still trading and providing jobs in the village while Richard Moore branded it a “dreadful scheme”.

Parish councillor Bob Hooper insisted: “Windfall sites are small infill sites.

“Thirty three new homes is not a windfall site.

“Great Bowden is already very busy and very congested – this would just make it worse.

“This should not be granted - reject this application.”

District councillors Peter James, Paul Bremner, Barry Frenchman, Sindy Modha and Janette Ackerley also criticised the proposed new estate before voting to axe it.