The Planning Committee of Melton Council was scheduled to consider two planning applications and receive an update on the Planning Productivity Plan. The meeting agenda included discussions on a proposed holiday lodge and static caravan site near Harston, and a change of use application for a children's home in Thorpe Arnold.

Application 24/00187/FUL: Land Adjacent to Keepers Lodge, Denton Lane, Harston

The committee was scheduled to consider a proposal for the change of use of land adjacent to Keepers Lodge in Harston¹ to accommodate holiday lodges and static caravans. The report pack indicated that the application was recommended for approval, subject to conditions. The proposed development included the siting of 15 units of holiday accommodation, with associated parking and a play area. A new access from Denton Lane was proposed, replacing an earlier plan for access from The Drift Road.

The report pack highlighted that the proposal was considered to align with Policy EC8 of the Local Plan, which supports sustainable tourism development. It was noted that the site is located near Belvoir Castle², a significant tourist attraction, and on the Viking Way³, a long-distance footpath. Concerns raised by objectors regarding the scale of development, impact on the rural character, highway safety, and provision of utilities were addressed in the report. The report also detailed the proposed ecological enhancements and Biodiversity Net Gain⁴ measures.

Application 22/00154/FUL: Avahan, Waltham Road, Thorpe Arnold

The committee was scheduled to discuss an application for the change of use of the dwelling Avahan in Thorpe Arnold⁴ to a children's home (Use Class C2), along with the erection of a self-contained annexe to the rear. The report pack indicated that this application was also recommended for approval, subject to conditions. The proposal aimed to increase the capacity for specialist care provision for vulnerable children, responding to an identified local need.

The report pack noted that a Certificate of Lawfulness had previously been issued, confirming that the existing dwelling could lawfully operate under Class C3(b) for up to six residents with care provided. The proposed annexe would accommodate four children and two staff members, increasing the overall site capacity. The report addressed concerns raised by objectors and the Parish Council regarding highway safety, parking, the site's location outside the settlement boundary, and potential impact on the area of separation⁵. It also detailed the proposed design of the annexe, sustainability measures, and drainage arrangements.

Planning Productivity Plan Update

An update on the Planning Productivity Plan (PPP) was scheduled to be presented to the committee. The report pack indicated that this plan was initiated in November 2024 to modernise the Planning Service and improve performance, capacity, workflow, and process efficiency. The update was expected to cover the work undertaken to date, performance achieved, and planned next steps.

The report highlighted the introduction of Short Interval Management (SIM) in December 2025, a structured operational approach designed to manage cases, identify delays, and resolve issues. It also mentioned the introduction of Workview, an analytical tool to improve visibility of workloads and productivity. The report was expected to detail performance improvements, including a reduction in the number of applications in progress and an increase in determined applications.