Green light for housing plan on edge of village

Councillors were told the development would help meet housing targets

A proposal to build homes on a field near Ravenstone has been approved.

North West Leicestershire District Council has granted planning permission to Gladman Developments for the construction of 105 houses on a 9.9-acre (four hectare) area of farmland off Wash Lane.

A meeting of the authority's planning committee on Wednesday, heard there had been objections to the scheme over the loss of the greenfield site and concerns about the effect of additional traffic.

However, planning officers, who recommended the application be approved, said the site had been allocated for housing in the council's local plan strategy.

About 20% of the homes will be affordable properties, but some planning committee members argued the proportion should be higher.

Helen Ball, agent for Gladman, told councillors the firm had agreed to pay more than £1m towards education provision in the area and £100,000 towards extra health care.

Planning officers also said highways officials at Leicestershire County Council had not objected to the scheme.

They said the company would pay £500,000 towards transport improvements in the Coalville area and that the money would be used to improve junctions on the nearby A511.

Councillors voted by six to four to approve the plan.