Homes plan approved despite 'significant' objections

About 100 residents objected to plans to build 128 homes on land off Snells Nook Lane

Plans to build a large housing estate in a Leicestershire village have been approved, despite "significant" objections.

Developer William Davis was given the go-ahead to build 128 homes, including 38 affordable properties, on land off Snells Nook Lane in Nanpantan.

About 100 residents argued the scale of the development would worsen existing traffic problems and "destroy" green spaces in the village.

Charnwood Borough Council said its planning committee approved the application on Thursday.

A council report by planning officers stated: "A significant number of concerns have been raised by local residents regarding the effect of the proposal on highway safety and the local road network."

Residents said the traffic situation in the village, which is situated on the edge of Loughborough, was already "very dangerous" on "severely congested" roads.

One resident, quoted in the report, said: "Safety of residents is not considered, it is already very dangerous pulling out of driveways into traffic in a 40mph zone and with queuing traffic at peak times, vision is blocked."

'Impact not severe'

Other concerns included the impact on the views of nearby Burleigh Wood, loss of green space and a potentially damaging impact on wildlife.

One resident said: "Nanpantan is a beautiful part of Loughborough, this will destroy the village."

Another added it would change Nanpantan from "a community of small developments and individual houses to a community completely dominated by one large development".

Planners were told the development "would not cause an unacceptable impact on highway safety, and the residual cumulative impacts on the road network would not be severe".

It added there was also a "recognised significant need" for affordable housing in the borough.

In planning documents, the developer said it had contacted residents of 188 homes in a public consultation about the plans.

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