The Planning Committee of North West Leicestershire Council met on Wednesday 6 May 2026 to consider two applications for Permission in Principle (PIP) for self-build dwellings. Both applications, located in Ravenstone and Coleorton respectively, were recommended for permission by officers and were subsequently approved by the committee.

Permission in Principle for Two Self-Build Dwellings at Land Adjacent to 49 Church Lane, Ravenstone

The committee granted Permission in Principle for the erection of two self-build dwellings on land adjacent to 49 Church Lane, Ravenstone. This decision was made despite the site being located outside the defined Limits to Development, which conflicts with Policies S2 and S3 of the North West Leicestershire Local Plan. The primary justification for approving the application was the significant unmet demand for self-build plots in the district, with a shortfall of 31 plots for the current base period. Officers noted that while the development conflicted with the spatial strategy of the Local Plan, the benefits of contributing to the self-build housing supply, along with other considerations such as accessibility via sustainable transport, outweighed the adverse impacts. The application was called to 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.

Permission in Principle for a Single Self-Build Dwelling at Land to the East of 56 Loughborough Road, Coleorton

Permission in Principle was also granted for the erection of a single self-build dwelling on land to the east of 56 Loughborough Road, Coleorton. Similar to the Ravenstone application, this site is located outside the defined Limits to Development, conflicting with Policies S2 and S3 of the Local Plan and Policy H2 of the Swannington Neighbourhood Plan. The decision to permit the development was again heavily influenced by the council's duty to provide sufficient self-build plots, with a current shortfall of 31 plots. The committee acknowledged the conflict with the Neighbourhood Plan, which was adopted less than five years prior, but concluded that the benefits of providing a self-build plot, alongside moderate weight given to economic benefits and sustainable transport access, did not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the adverse impacts. The application was called to committee due to the officer recommendation for approval and the applicant being a close relative of a serving member or officer of the Council.