Controversial scheme to redevelop a traditional old people’s complex in Harborough gets the go-ahead

A controversial scheme to redevelop a traditional old people’s complex in Market Harborough has got the go-ahead.

The blueprint to demolish 19 ageing bungalows on Naseby Square, off Stuart Road, and replace them with 38 affordable homes was backed last night (Tuesday) by Harborough District Council’s planning committee.

The project, which has sparked fury since it was launched almost three years ago, was decisively rubber-stamped by eight votes to one after a passionate online debate lasting about 100 minutes.

The contentious plan – which has been bitterly fought every step of the way – is being pushed through after Harborough council sold its land on the town’s Southern Estate site to Platform Housing Group late last year.

The major housing operator already owned the rest of the tight-knit community development dating back over 60 years.

Council planning officer Nicola Parry admitted to councillors last night that the impact on tenants already forced to move out of the set-up built in the 1950s and 1960s had been “traumatic”.

Over 800 people in Market Harborough have signed petitions slamming the initiative since shocked elderly people in 19 bungalows got a letter from housing bosses in May 2018 telling them their homes were to be knocked down.

The Rev Alison Tomlin said she was objecting as the scheme would have a devastating environmental impact on the entire area.

She said wildlife such as badgers, foxes, bats and birds would all suffer while mature trees would also be lost and the threat of serious flooding would get worse.

Her husband Dave Tomlin, who has helped to run Naseby Square Tenants’ Support Group, said tenants had been left angry and in despair after losing their full-time warden and beloved community hall.

“We need to build the community, not destroy it,” he told the virtual meeting.

Dave said elderly tenants hadn’t want to be moved out while the new influx of families and children moving in would impact on vital under-pressure services such as local schools and medical centres.

Fellow objector Keith Melhuish, who served with London’s Metropolitan Police for 30 years, also helped to mastermind security for the 2012 London Olympics.

The retired veteran police officer said security had been badly thought out for the new 38-home complex.

“This will create a high-crime environment for residents living there and nearby residents as well,” warned Mr Melhuish.

But Cllr Barry Frenchman, a local ward councillor for Welland, said he backed the bold blueprint – despite stressing lessons had to be learned from the way the whole process had been handled.

And when fellow Conservative Cllr Amanda Nunn questioned the proposed new houses’ timber cladding, Cllr Frenchman retorted: “This is a complete red herring.

“The houses around there are all reasonably ugly.

“This is a modern, fresh, attractive development.

“We should stay with this.

“And it will create a pleasing new community in its own right.”

To which Cllr Nunn replied before the application was overwhelmingly backed: “We do really need these new homes and I’m happy to support this.”