Issue - meetings

Land West of Regs Way, Bardon

The Principal Planning Officer presented the report to the committee.

Councillor Wood, on behalf of  Hugglescote and Donington Le Heath Parish Council, addressed the committee. He asserted that this land was originally intended for use as a link/in fill. With regards to small scale employment, Councillor Wood suggested that the Local Plan offered no interpretation of small scale employment. It was noted that in the report the site is described as being situated outside the limits to development as specified in the Local Plan and the Neighbourhood Plan, and it was asserted the limits to development had become rather flexible. The traffic capacity at the nearby traffic island was called into question. It was suggested that by granting permission to this development, the opportunity for a railway halt which could potentially service a large catchment area would be lost. With regards to bus services, it was noted that the County had removed various bus services due to costs, which would therefore leave little opportunity for the development to be accessed without ownership of a vehicle.

Claire Biddle, the applicant, addressed the committee and described the purpose and scale of the proposed development and asserted that there had been overwhelming evidence that there would be local demand for this type of development. A key point raised was that each unit had between three and five firms who had expressed an interest. The meeting was informed that the site was already well screened with mature vegetation and that there would be a substantial separation from dwellings. It was noted that where possible, low carbon construction methods would be used. The applicant highlighted that Leicestershire County Highways had presented no objections to the scheme. The level crossing and pedestrian crossing points would be improved in a bid to encourage employees to walk and cycle to reach the development. The scheme aimed to reduce private car use by offering bus passes, improving bus stops, offering EV charging points and through the provision of cycle parking. It was noted that ecological enhancements and an extensive landscaping scheme would be implemented.

Councillor R Johnson, Ward Member, addressed the committee and asserted that a development of this type of building and size would be detrimental at the entrance to the village of Hugglescote and highlighted to the meeting that a recent similar development only had a 56% occupancy. It was suggested that the proposed access and egress would be dangerous given its proximity to an active railway line and felt that by allowing this application, it would serve to undermine other parishes’ confidence in the authority with regard to Neighbourhood Plan Policy. The fact the development would be outside the limits to development was highlighted. It was suggested that a better use for the site would be for public transport services for the former Burton to Leicester railway line and that the development would threaten the integrity of this. The meeting was informed that Network Rail had offered to fund a feasibility study into the cost of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45