Homes on former landfill site approved despite methane fears

Officials have agreed the site off Cork Lane can be developed after agreeing safety measures

Plans to build homes on a former landfill site have been approved despite concerns about methane gas.

Blaby District Council rejected a proposal to construct 165 houses off Cork Lane, Glen Parva, Leicestershire, last year because of the risk of gas leaks.

Developer Glen Parva JV LLP appealed and was given planning permission, subject to a mitigation scheme.

The council has now approved a set of measures to tackle the gas risk.

The decision, taken at a recent planning meeting, meant the green light for construction to start, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said.

'Similar sites'

Methane gas is produced when rubbish decomposes and can be dangerous when trapped in confined spaces.

Following meetings between the council, contamination experts and the developers, it was agreed the homes would be designed in a way to protect them from gas from below.

That includes gas monitoring, during and after construction, and placing clean top soil in all the properties' gardens.

Steve Wilson, the applicant's landfill gas expert, said: "There are hundreds, if not thousands, of similar sites where houses have been built over ground where gas is present."

He said there were well-established and routine procedures for dealing with the issue.