Petition launched against North Kilworth development which could put 'essence of village life' at risk
Residents are being urged to “act now” in a bid to stop a 49-home scheme that risks the “very essence of village life” they treasure.
The development, submitted to Harborough District Council (HDC) by Herring, Herring, Herring, Philips & Caddick Residential Ltd, looks to build 49 homes to the south of Station Road in North Kilworth.
The plan has sparked much concern though with villager Elizabeth Bains raising a petition against the development, which has been signed by 159 other people.
She claims North Kilworth’s amenities and infrastructure are 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”.
The proposed development site is approximately 0.4 miles from the centre of North Kilworth which has close access to the M1 and M6. If approved, the homes would be delivered in two phases.
A total of 13 affordable and 14 market homes would be delivered in phase one, with nine affordable and 13 market homes delivered in phase two. The proposal includes a central spine road that would provide the main access through the development.
However, serious accident claims have been made about the plans, with one objector saying traffic is a “dangerous problem” throughout North Kilworth. The resident said: “The development entrance is located on a blind bend and would not allow for safe access at any time.”
The objector claimed that speeding was a problem “along the entire length of the village” and demanded a thorough investigation by the Local Highways Authority (LHA) should be undertaken.
They added: “The road itself is dangerous with a serious accident within the village in the past six months at an established junction.
“Another entrance onto Station Road cannot be justified on these grounds. Further accidents within the last six months on the A4304 leading to Walcote include two fatalities […]”.
The LHA said personal injury collision (PIC) data from 2019 to 2024 uncovered four such PICs in the area, two of which were recorded as slight in severity, and two, in 2020, which were recorded as serious.
The authority also reviewed its own database, which includes details up to Tuesday, September 30 this year. It found two PICs had been recorded, covering 500m either side of the site access, one was deemed slight in severity and another was classed as serious.
The LHA also said it was aware of a fatal accident in the area which happened last month, but added “this was 4km to the west of the site” and therefore not included in the scope of the assessment.
In summary, the LHA said in its view highways impacts from the development “would not be unacceptable” and that when considered with other developments, the impact on roads “would not be severe” either.
Herring, Herring, Herring, Philips & Caddick Residential Ltd said its proposal “prioritises pedestrian movement” with wide footpaths and shared spaces. Internally, the development would see parking mainly to the side and at the back of the new homes.
This, they said, was to “minimise the visual impact of parked cars in the street scene”.
A decision on the plans is due to be made by HDC by Friday February 6.