Developers appeal decision to reject plans for 24 homes in Houghton on the Hill

Developers Minster Property Group have put in an appeal after their application was turned down following 43 objections.

Plans were put forward to Harborough District Council (HDC) for land north of Stretton Lane and west of existing residential development along Freer Close in the village of Houghton on the Hill, proposing that all 24 homes would be affordable.

Private drives and a total of 46 car parking spaces were also included in the plans.

The plans were called in for discussion at committee by Thurnby and Houghton ward councillor Simon Galton (Lib Dems) due to issues regarding the planning history of the site, parking, access, public right of way and the landscape impact of the development.

The development was unanimously refused at HDC’s April planning committee, against officers’ recommendations to approve it, due to the negative impact on the surrounding area and the potential harm to its historic character.

One resident said in their objection to the plans: “No amended plans will make me change my mind to congestion in an already congested village, the impact on an already dangerous bend and school parking, and the devastating effect on wildlife.”

Another said: “We have more than our fair share of new-build developments surrounding Houghton.

“Traffic, congestion, loss of wildlife habitat, the impact on the natural environment, impact on limited amenities. It’s the same arguments time and time again. More families, more pressure on health and education services.

“Please consider the huge and dangerous impact this could have on the local school children, it’s already hard enough navigating your car out of the village during school drop off and pick up times. Add in 24 ‘family homes’ and this will further aggravate an already serious situation.”

There was one resident who wrote in support of the plans. They said: “The plans look nice, and it looks like the public footpath to Thurnby might be returned to a decent condition.

“Lots of people who have commented are really concerned about traffic and the school being over-subscribed, but these are unfounded concerns.”

Minster Property Group’s application is for a 1.79 hectare site on former agricultural land for a combination of one, two, three and four-bedroom homes. The planning statement said plans had been put in place to address the housing needs in the area.

Development plans include the widening of Stretton Lane near to the development site, providing a two metre wide footpath which would connect to the existing footpath on the north side of Stretton Lane, and adding a pedestrian crossing to the existing footpath on the south side of Stretton Lane.

Plans note an application for the site was refused in 2015 and an appeal in relation to that decision was dismissed in March 2016 for a development of 32 homes.

At that time, the Planning Inspectorate said the 32-home development “would result in unacceptable impacts on the character of the area and the rural setting of the village”.

Summing up their appeal, Minster Property Group said it had shown “that the landscape and heritage impacts of the proposals do not amount to a level of harm that would justify the refusal to grant planning permission”.