Two housing schemes in town face objections

The developer says it has cut the number of planned properties on one estate after feedback

Two applications for a total of 259 homes near the same town in Rutland are to be considered shortly.

Langton Homes wants outline planning permission for 125 homes on fields south of Leicester Road, Uppingham.

It is also seeking to reduce the number of properties - from 163 to 134 - which already have outline permission for a site near the allotments north of Leicester Road.

Both schemes have faced opposition but officers have recommended them for approval at a meeting of the county council's planning committee on Tuesday.

Traffic concerns

Both sites are within the town's newly developed neighbourhood plan which was signed off this summer, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

Planning documents show the southern scheme will consist of a mix of housing sizes, including bungalows, while 36 of the properties will be deemed "affordable".

The report also said the highways authority had requested the speed limit on Leicester Road is dropped from 40mph to 30mph.

There have been 15 objections to the scheme, with complaints claiming the development is out of character for the town, will increase traffic on Leicester Road and put pressure on local schools and services.

For the northern scheme, the report said the current outline permission has been revised "to address comments from officers and consultees, including changes to design and internal layout".

Uppingham Town Council has objected to this project, on the grounds it is not in keeping with the design principles of the neighbourhood plan.

In a letter to the county council, the town council said: "The town council has engaged extensively with the applicant during the preparation of this application but remains dissatisfied that key concerns have not been addressed."