The Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council Planning Committee met to consider a number of planning applications, including large housing developments, the erection of a statue, and the change of use of a dwelling. The committee also received an update on the progress of planning appeals.

Land North Of A47 Normandy Way, Hinckley

The committee was scheduled to consider an outline planning application for the erection of up to 415 dwellings, as well as landscaping, open space, drainage and associated infrastructure on land north of the A47 Normandy Way in Hinckley. Access was the only matter to be discussed at this stage.

The proposed access for the development was scheduled to be a 3-arm roundabout along the A47 Normandy Way, including a shared footway/cycleway along the northern arm.

The application site is located in open countryside outside of the settlement boundary of Hinckley, but it featured within a wider proposed housing allocation in the Regulation 18 draft version of the Local Plan (July-September 2024).

The report pack noted that the council cannot currently demonstrate a 5-year housing land supply.

The report pack stated that the Housing Officer requested that 20% affordable housing be provided, as set out in the Core Strategy, Policy 15. This would give 83 dwellings for affordable housing, split as follows:

• 21 homes for First Homes
• 41 homes for affordable rent
• 21 homes for shared ownership

The Local Highway Authority had requested a number of planning obligations, including a contribution of £1,515,341.71 towards off-site strategic highway improvements along the A47 corridor.

The report pack noted that the committee had previously deferred consideration of this application, and that since the deferral, the applicant had provided a further update in respect of queries raised regarding the position of the proposed roundabout and the impact on residents immediately to the south of the A47. A technical note provided by HUB (transport consultant for the applicant) stated that it would be unfeasible to relocate or resize the proposed roundabout.

Land Adjacent Barlestone Garage, Newbold Road, Barlestone

The Planning Committee was scheduled to discuss a revised full planning application for the construction of 58 dwellings, including garages and garden stores, with associated access works, landscaping, open space and drainage infrastructure on land adjacent to Barlestone Garage, Newbold Road, Barlestone.

The proposed access into the site is from Newbold Road, and would involve the demolition of 68 Newbold Road to make provision for this access. 24 of the units (40%) would be for affordable housing.

The application was accompanied by a number of reports and documents, including a Design Statement, Odour Assessment, Air Quality Assessment, Noise Report, Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment, and Biodiversity Net Gain Assessment.

The report pack noted that the local highway authority was yet to confirm that the internal spine road of the proposed development was suitable for adoption.

The Ramblers Association had objected to the application, stating that the proposed diverted route of the footpath was excessively long, and would be mainly along estate roads. The report pack noted that the proposed route had been reduced in length as part of the revised plans submitted by the applicant.

The report pack stated that the NHS requested a health financial contribution of £56,144.00, and that the LCC Planning Obligations Team requested financial contributions in respect of libraries, waste and education totalling £429,108.02.

North Warwickshire And Hinckley College, Lower Bond Street, Hinckley

The committee was scheduled to discuss an application for the erection of an Ada Lovelace statue outside North Warwickshire and Hinckley College, 2.5 metres in height, mounted on a Portland stone plinth 0.5 metres high.

The statue is proposed by the Ada in Hinckley Community Interest Company (CIC) as a striking and distinctive physical form of commemoration and recognition of Ada's legacy. The costs of production and installation are to be met by the CIC, with permission granted by the College for installation on their land, and with arrangements made for ownership, liabilities and maintenance requirements for the statue to be formally taken on by the Borough Council following installation.

The report pack stated that the statue is a suitable proposal to commemorate and recognise a renowned component of the borough's heritage, and that it is of an appropriate appearance and modest scale.

The report pack noted that Augusta Ada King, Countess of Lovelace, was a leading 19th century mathematician and daughter of the famous poet Lord Byron. She became the world's first computer programmer, and although Ada's birthplace was in London, during her early childhood she lived at Kirkby Hall in Kirby Mallory and made frequent visits to Hinckley until age 6, giving her ties to the town.

Heath Lane, Earl Shilton

The Planning Committee was scheduled to discuss an application for the change of use of a dwellinghouse (Use Class C3¹) to a residential children's home (Use Class C2²) for up to three children under the age of 18 years old, and the provision of a bin store and cycle shelter at 141 Heath Lane, Earl Shilton.

The report pack stated that the scheme creates jobs for two full time and two part time members of staff, and that an existing bedroom is converted into a staff room. Only one member of staff shall be on site at any given time, and only two members of staff will be on site to accommodate the changeover of shifts. All visits to the site shall be by appointment only.

The report pack noted that five objections had been received from local residents, raising concerns including child safety, noise and disturbance, and increased anti-social behaviour.

Appeals Progress

The committee was scheduled to receive a report on the progress of planning appeals. The report listed a number of appeals, including:

• Land off York Close, Market Bosworth (100 Dwellings) - Informal Hearing
• Land off Barwell Lane, Kirby Mallory (Erection of 7 dwellings) - Written Representations
• Shady Trees, 19 Station Road, Desford (Raise canopy to 5m) - Written Representations
• Wide View Fenn Lane, Fenny Drayton (Use of land for storage of agricultural machinery, vehicles, and materials) - Written Representations
• 28 Spinney Drive, Botcheston (Carry out works to protected trees, to fell T1 Canadian Pine) - Written Representations
• Land at Shenton Lane, Upton (Use of agricultural land for car sales business) - Written Representations
• Land ne of Old White Cottage, 2 Newbold Road, Desford (Outline application for the construction of a 3-bedroom split-level dwelling) - Written Representations
• Barton Hill Fields Farm, Barton in the Beans (Variation of condition 3 16/00640/FUL) - Written Representations
• White House, Bosworth Road, Wellsborough (Erection of single storey self build/custom-build dwelling) - Written Representations
• Oddfellows, Higham-On-The-Hill (Proposed development of 7 dwellings) - Informal Hearing
• Land Adjacent 29 Elizabeth Road, Hinckley (New build detached dwelling) - Written Representations
• Land opposite Paddock View, Twycross Road, Sheepy Magna (Change of use of agricultural land to domestic garden) - Written Representations
• 69 Burbage Road, Burbage (Erection of a timber fence to front of the property) - Written Representations
• Land at the corner of The Green and Pipe Lane, Orton on the Hill (Outline planning application for the erection of one self-build/custom build dwelling) - Dismissed
• Land Opposite 49 Moore Road, Barwell (Erection of one new dwelling with associated landscaping and access formation) - Dismissed
• Barnhills Farm, Merrylees Road, Thornton (Erection of two storey childcare facility with ancillary services and associated external play areas and animal interaction areas) - Dismissed
• Land North of Pipe Lane, Orton on the Hill (The erection of one detached dwelling, formation of access from Pipe Lane and associated works) - Dismissed
• Land SW Sibson Road, Sheepy Parva (Outline planning permission for the erection of a single self-build dwelling) - Dismissed
• 7 Springfield Road, Hinckley (Proposed wooden cattery) - Allowed