Agenda item

Land Adjoining Mill Hill Farm Station Road Ibstock Coalville Leicestershire LE67 6JL

The Senior Planning Officer presented the report to Members.

Councillor J Clarke, Ward Member, addressed the Committee.  He raised concerns that the proposal was outside the limits to development, both in the current local plan and the emerging local plan, and by granting permission it would set a precedent to developers across the District.  He believed that the proposal had a very large footprint, even larger than the neighbouring three properties put together, it was much bigger than any other properties nearby.  He expressed the importance of keeping the area of separation between villages and felt that this development could have an impact on this.  He added that the applicant had previous history of operating a bed and breakfast business from their home and was concerned that this would be the case for the proposed property due to its size.  He stated that the development would not be making a significant contribution to the supply of new homes.

Mrs J McMinn, applicant, addressed the Committee.  She firstly clarified that although she had ran a bed and breakfast business in the past, the proposal before Members had been designed as a  bungalow for herself and her husband to retire to in a property next to their son’s home.  She added that they had lived in the village all of their lives and the proposal would allow them to remain in the village once retired.  She stated that there were other new developments nearby that were also built on agricultural land and officers were happy that the site would accommodate the size of the property.  She stated that the proposal would not result in a significant reduction in the gap between the site and Heather, and that that she believed that the Bellway Homes development in the village had a much bigger impact on the countryside and urged Members to permit the application. 

The officer’s recommendation was moved by Councillor M Specht and seconded by Councillor J Cotterill.

Councillor J Legrys commented that former Councillor De Lacy fought very hard against the Belway Homes development because of his concerns regarding the decreasing area of separation between the villages and he too had deep concerns, especially as there were no defined lines in either the current or emerging local plan.    He felt that the scale of the proposal was inappropriate and did not fit in with the properties on the opposite side of Station Road.  He believed that the line of sight between the two churches within the two villages would be impacted by the development and felt it was important to keep the view uninterrupted.  He also stated that the Committee needed to make it clear to officers that the line needed to be drawn regarding permitting developments outside the limits to development in the area.

The Chairman commented that regarding the area of separation, the properties on the opposite side of Station Road were actually closer to the neighbouring village than the proposed development and these properties were old houses which had been there for many years.

Councillor M Specht stated that the two churches referred to by Councillor J Legrys were not  clearly visible from the application site so he felt that the development would not have an impact on the view.  He added that the erection of one dwelling would not coalesce with the neighbouring village so did not raise his concerns.  He was happy to support the officer’s recommendation.

Councillor R Johnson felt that the application had merit and the area of separation between the villages has already been shifted by the Bellway Homes development.  He also felt that it was important to keep local people in the area wherever possible.

RESOLVED THAT:

The application be permitted in accordance with the recommendation of the Head of Planning and Regeneration.