Plans refused to convert Kibworth Working Men’s Club into nine flats amid raft of concerns

Applicant Mr G Hughes submitted the application to Harborough District Council (HDC) - and records show the building in Fleckney Road, Kibworth Beauchamp, stopped operating as a working men’s club on March 1 last year.

However, Mr Hughes’ proposal has been controversial, with Kibworths ward councillor Phil King calling in the report to HDC’s planning committee for wider discussion.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), one neighbour who did not want to be named, said: “It’s an ugly building – something needs to be done with it as it’s laying there empty.”

She said she thought that accommodation would probably be the best use of the space but consideration should be given to parking as she was concerned about the impact of additional cars in the area with Fleckney Road already very busy.

Neighbour Sarah Jayne Moss told the LDRS she was unsure what was going to happen to the building.

When asked what she would like to see replace the working men’s club, the 42-year-old said: “Anything that can add value for the children in the village.”

Proposed plans from Mr Hughes showed six flats on the upper ground floor of the building, including a one-bed unit and five open plan studios.

A further three open-plan studios were proposed for the lower ground floor of the building. Original plans showed a total of eight flats, but this was subsequently increased to nine.

Although the existing 20 parking spaces were included on the original plans, these were reduced to 13.

A total of 38 residents made objections to the proposed plans on the HDC planning portal. Objections included issues linked to highways and traffic, a lack of bin storage, risk to pedestrians and children, a lack of parking, poor design and no consideration given to the visual impact of the development.

One resident said: “The proposed development represents a poor-quality and inadequately considered scheme that fails to provide acceptable living conditions for future occupants as well as adding undue pressure on an already constrained local environment.

“The proposals raise serious concerns regarding internal space standards, ventilation, fire safety and means of escape, lack of storage, absence of green space, and insufficient information to properly assess the suitability of the flats for long-term residential use.

“In addition, the development fails to adequately address parking demand, visitor parking, waste storage, cycle provision, and the cumulative impact on highway safety and congestion along Fleckney Road and surrounding residential streets, contrary to the Kibworth Villages Neighbourhood Development Plan.

“Furthermore, the scheme does not positively respond to or enhance the character of the existing building or the wider village context. Taken together, these shortcomings indicate that the proposal does not represent sustainable or high-quality development and should therefore be refused.”

When HDC officials met on Tuesday (September 8), the planning committee unanimously voted to refuse the application.

Officials said Mr Hughes’ plan did not achieve a high standard of design, had inadequate parking provisions and also had a lack of space and capacity for storage of waste.