This application was turned down in 2014 - nothing has changed since!

Bloor Homes have submitted a second application for a housing development on the land off Laburnum Way and Corydalis Close in Loughborough. This application for 133 homes and is the first part of a proposed 422 houses in this area­­. However, there is a total of around 1350 homes planned in the wider Loughborough area.

Bloor Homes submitted a previous planning application to Charnwood Borough Council (CBC) for a housing development on the Laburnum Road site in 2014. This was refused by CBC planning committee, for the following reasons: 

·       The remoteness of the site from local services and facilities

·       Lack of good access to existing public transport systems which would help to reduce car use 

·       Failure to protect the intrinsic character and beauty of the landscape 

·       Taken together, the proposal would cause cumulative impacts that would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefit of the development 

It is clear that the reasons that the previous plan was turned down have not changed since 2014. We acknowledge that new houses are needed countrywide. However, this application differs little from the previous application and it is our opinion that it should be refused on this basis that the reasons it was turned down in 2014 are still valid. Traffic is already at capacity in the area, there is already a shortage of local school places, the existing GP surgeries are struggling to cope with the current number of patients, the promised bus services and shops for the Grange Park estate never appeared and the new application does nothing to address these issues. It also does not address the considerable environmental and historical impact this development would have. 

There has already been considerable development in this part of Loughborough and this new proposal takes the influx of houses dangerously close to Charnwood Forest. Currently there is a strip of land that stands between the current houses and the forest. Once this has been built on, we will never get it back again. For more information on this ‘unique and important landscape’ please see this information on the National Forest website.

National Forest

As well as supporting this petition, we would encourage everyone to look at the application and submit your own comments to the Council focusing on material considerations. Only post codes within the local area will be accepted by the council.

You can find the application, P/23/1517/2, on the Charnwood Borough Council Planning Portal (link below).

Charnwood Borough Council Planning Portal

Please note that valid reasons to oppose a planning application can include:  

Overlooking/loss of privacy
Loss of daylight/sunlight or overshadowing
Scale and dominance
Layout and density of buildings
Appearance and design of development and materials proposed
Disabled persons' access
Highway safety
Traffic and parking issues
Drainage and flood risk
Noise, dust, fumes etc
Impact on character or appearance of area
Effect on listed buildings and conservation areas
Effect on trees and wildlife/nature conservation
Impact on the community and otherservices
Economic impact and sustainability
Government policy
Proposals in the Local Development Plan
Previous planning decisions (including appeal decisions)

Issues which cannot be taken into account

Who the applicant is/the applicant's background
Loss of views
Loss of property value
Loss of trade or increased competition
Strength or volume of local opposition
Construction noise/disturbance during development
Fears of damage to property
Maintenance of property
Boundary disputes, covenants or other property rights
Rights of way
Personal circumstances are generally not a material planning consideration

Source: Material and non-material considerations - Charnwood Borough Council