Developer lodges appeal after 48 home plan refused

A developer which was refused permission to build 48 new homes in a Leicestershire village has lodged an appeal against the decision.

Church Farm Billesdon Ltd had its planning application to build the new homes in Gaulby Road, Billesdon, refused in May by Harborough district councillors, who branded the development “harmful”.

Planning officers recommended permission was granted, but it was refused unanimously on the grounds it did not “respect the existing form and character” of the area.

Church Farm Billesdon has now applied to the Planning Inspectorate in the hope it will overturn the council's refusal.

The company said it “firmly believed that the evidence presented would demonstrate that planning permission should have been granted”, reports the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

More than 106 objections to the plans had been submitted to the council, which received one letter of support.

The local parish council also spoke against it at the planning meeting on 14 May.

One objector said their main concern was around the impact of additional traffic on the roads.

They added that additional homes would also “lead to the village losing its village character and becoming overcrowded".

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