The Planning Committee of North West Leicestershire Council was scheduled to discuss two applications for permission in principle for self-build dwellings. These applications, one for two dwellings in Ravenstone and another for a single dwelling in Coleorton, were both recommended for permission.

Permission in Principle for Two Self-Build Dwellings in Ravenstone

The committee was scheduled to consider an application for permission in principle for the erection of two self-build dwellings on land adjacent to 49 Church Lane, Ravenstone. The report indicated that this application was brought before the committee because it was recommended for approval by officers and had been submitted by a close relative of a serving member or officer of the council.

The report detailed that the site is located outside the defined Limits to Development and is currently agricultural grazing land. It was noted that the proposal conflicts with Policies S2 and S3 of the North West Leicestershire Local Plan (2021), which generally restrict residential development in the countryside. However, the report also highlighted that the development would contribute to addressing a significant shortfall in the provision of self-build plots, a duty the council has under the Self-Build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015. This contribution to meeting the demand for self-build housing was considered a material consideration, carrying moderate weight in favour of the proposal. The report also assessed potential impacts on the character of the area, residential amenities, flood risk, ecology, and highway safety, concluding that these could be managed at the technical details consent stage.

Permission in Principle for a Single Self-Build Dwelling in Coleorton

The committee was also scheduled to consider a permission in principle application for a single self-build dwelling on land to the east of 56 Loughborough Road, Coleorton. Similar to the Ravenstone application, this was recommended for permission and was presented to the committee due to its recommendation for approval and a connection to a council member or officer.

The report indicated that the site is located outside the defined Limits to Development and is currently part of the residential curtilage of the existing dwelling at 56 Loughborough Road. The proposal was noted to conflict with Policy S2 of the Local Plan, Policy S3 of the Local Plan, and Policy H2 of the Swannington Neighbourhood Plan (2023), which restrict development in the countryside. However, the report emphasised the significant unmet need for self-build plots in the district, with a shortfall of 31 plots for the current base period. This contribution to meeting the self-build demand was considered a material consideration with moderate weight. The report also addressed potential impacts on the character of the area, residential amenities, flood risk, ecology, highway safety, and coal mining risk, suggesting these could be managed at the technical details consent stage. The report also noted that the Swannington Neighbourhood Plan, adopted in March 2023, is less than five years old and contains policies and allocations to meet its housing requirement, which, according to Paragraph 14 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), means that conflict with the Neighbourhood Plan is likely to constitute significant and demonstrable harm.

The meeting agenda also included standard items such as apologies for absence, declarations of interest, and the confirmation of the minutes from the previous meeting held on 14 April 2026.