Plans for 90 homes in village refused

The L-shaped site is next to Lubenham near Market Harborough

Plans to build 90 new homes in a village in Leicestershire have been unanimously refused by councillors after a number concerns were raised about the development.

Barratt David Wilson Homes submitted the plans for the homes in Laughton Road, Lubenham, which also included a children's play area, a possible village green and land for a shop or community facility.

But 13 objections were raised about the size and design of the development, access to the site and the possibility it could cause flooding problems.

Councillors voted to refuse planning permission, despite four letters of support for the new homes.

In their recommendation for refusal, officers said the proposal could cause "harm to the character and appearance of the area" due to its "scale and siting".

Council papers on the application also said the design of the proposal was "poorly related to the existing village, failed to integrate with the existing buildings" and "fails to demonstrate" that it would not increase flooding elsewhere.

One objector said Lubenham was classed as a "small village" and a "development of approximately 90 homes would threaten the character and identity of the village and place pressure on limited local services".

They wrote: "This proposal must be considered alongside other significant pressures in the area, notably the 1,700-inmate Gartree Prison extension just two miles away, and the potential development of an additional 1,400 homes along the Leicester Road, next to the prison site and an additional as yet unbuilt under construction phase of 200 homes at Airfield Farm, all within two miles or less of where this proposal is sited."

Lubenham Parish Council also objected to the proposals, saying it felt the village was too small to sustain the extra homes.

The parish council also raised issues regarding highways safety and "flooding on the site and the adjacent site".

Four people wrote in support of the plans. One wrote: "We would absolutely love to secure one of these beautiful new homes as we have lots of family nearby to Market Harborough.

"I regularly commute to London so the proximity to the train station would also be great."