The Development Control and Regulatory Board of Leicestershire County Council met on Thursday, 11 September 2025, to discuss planning applications and Tree Preservation Orders. The board approved a variation to conditions for a composting facility at Glebe Farm, Sibson, and agreed to vary or revoke several Tree Preservation Orders in the North West Leicestershire district.

Moore Recycling Ltd - Glebe Farm, Sibson

The board considered a Section 73 application from Moore Recycling Ltd to vary conditions of a planning permission at Glebe Farm, Glebe Lane, Sibson¹. The application sought to increase the number of green waste deliveries, allow the sale of compost from the site, increase the volume of compost material processed, and extend the hours of operation.

Concerns were raised by Sheepy Parish Council and local residents regarding the potential for increased noise, dust, and odour, as well as highway safety issues due to increased vehicle movements. Objectors argued that the proposed changes would fundamentally alter the nature of the operation from a rural enterprise to a large-scale industrial one.

However, the report presented to the board concluded that the proposed variations would not fundamentally alter the operative part of the existing planning permission. It was noted that the site has an established waste use and the intensification of activity would occur within the existing footprint, without new structures. The report also highlighted that the site is subject to existing planning controls and environmental permits to manage noise, dust, and odour. The Highways Authority raised no objections, stating that the estimated increase in vehicle movements would not result in unacceptable congestion or safety risks.

Decision: The application was permitted, subject to conditions. These conditions included limits on the annual sale of composted material to commercial operators, restrictions on the volume of compost materials and wood waste processed on site, and specific hours for deliveries and shredding operations. Deliveries of green waste were permitted on Sundays and Bank Holidays between 08:00 and 17:00, but shredding or treatment of green waste was prohibited before 08:00 on weekdays and Saturdays, and at any time on Sundays, Public, or Bank Holidays.

Varying of Leicestershire County Council Tree Preservation Orders within the District of North West Leicestershire

The board reviewed the results of a desktop and site visit exercise conducted on Leicestershire County Council Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) within the North West Leicestershire district. The purpose of the review was to ensure that the TPOs accurately reflected the current situation and that the protection afforded to trees remained merited.

Of the 44 TPOs assessed, 30 required no changes, while 14 needed to be varied or revoked. These changes were necessary due to factors such as the removal of trees, changes in land use, or the planting of new trees that now warrant protection.

Decision: The board gave consent to vary eight TPOs in the North West Leicestershire district to bring them up to date. Additionally, consent was given to revoke six TPOs that were no longer considered viable. Specific examples of variations included adding new trees to the order at Highfields, Ashby de la Zouch, and changing an area order to specify individual trees at Packington Road, Ashby de la Zouch. Revocations included orders for trees that no longer existed at Shields Crescent, Castle Donington, and Station Road, Kegworth.