Plans to build up to 101 homes on land in Coalville have been given the go-ahead by North West Leicestershire District Council.

Last night's (Tuesday) meeting of the council's planning committee permitted outline planning permission to build the new houses on land north of Waterworks Road.

That was despite strong opposition from residents and two petitions containing over 1,000 signatures.

Councillors were told that, having regard to the site's allocation for residential development in the adopted Local Plan, it was considered acceptable in principle.

The meeting heard that 20 per cent of the new homes would be affordable housing.

But the meeting also heard objections from an objector who said: "Almost all local residents are in objection to this damaging proposal.

"I want to focus on environment, this is the only grassland for small animals and larger ones including deer.

"To get to nearby Hermitage Lake would mean they get into cars and cause more congestion.

"It can't compensate for the loss of this public open space amenity.

"Residents have a potentially much more concerning objection. At a council meeting last September, it was decided, in secret, to form an entity to oversee the development of this site.

"The public will struggle to see how you can be open minded. Residents suggest to me that this conflict could be subject to judicial review.

"They expect the democratically elected council to be open and listen to the electorate. The impacts of Brexit and the pandemic are likely to reduce the need for housing.

"Drop this development and preserve this space for future generations. We believe you should be wise."

Bardon Ward member Cllr Angela Black said: "We strongly object, I find it outrageous that we're here talking about another development in the Bardon area.

"Thousands of acres of our green space has already been built on or is currently being destroyed.

"I find it difficult to comprehend when they have already met the five year housing requirement.

"This land could have been identified as a wildlife site already, but they have let this community down yet again.

"Residents don't want to lose this land, and have expressed their wishes to see this site turned into a community woodland or a nature reserve.

"The proposed nearest conservation area is two miles away, with a lack of public transportation, or a 37 minute walk.

"Also, it is evident there are concerns of surface water or drainage, causing flooding. It will have a detrimental affect on residents' health and well being, as well as causing a build up of traffic on the local network. All in the vicinity of a local school.

"There will be light and noise pollution, and cause a lack of wildlife."

Cllr John LeGrys added: "This land was bought by the then Coalville Urban Council, for housing, in 1950, which didn't happen.

"This land has not been touched since then. The grassland is unique to Leicestershire I believe. It's similar to the Lounge site at Ashby where grassland will be destroyed.

"I do feel I am having the Mickey taken out of me as regards the local plan.

"The council has made the decision to sell the land, I am deeply concerned about the road lay out, there's only one access, not two and people will be in limbo.

"The genuine concerns about open space have been ignored if we drive this through."

Cllr David Bigby added: "I am appalled, it wasn't until last week at the technical briefing that the area that's been applied for is 20 per cent larger than the area that's been designated in the local plan for development. It does not conform.

"We haven't been told why. People in a nearby cul-de-sac will be very significantly affected by this and I'm very concerned."

But other councillors felt it would be an 'exemplar plan' - one that follows the council's 'roadmap'.

Cllr Ashman said: "We're here with our planning committee hats on and we have to make a decision based on hard facts."

Cllr Ray Morris added: "I do fully sympathise with the objectors, but we have to provide houses with a forward plan, and this actually well related to the town.

Cllr Jim Hoult added: "People need houses and we have to build them somewhere."

Councillors voted to permit the application by seven votes to three.

North West Leicestershire Council issued a statement today which reads: "The committee approved an application made by North West Leicestershire District Council for up to 101 new homes on land off Waterworks Road in Coalville.

"The land is allocated for housing in the district's Local Plan.

"The permission grants vehicle access by Buckingham Road – all other matters, including layout, housing mix and materials, will be reserved for a future full application.

"A number of objections to the application were logged, including from the county council ecologist and Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust due to a loss of grassland.

"A number of individual objections were received, and two petitions were submitted by local councillors objecting to the development.

"No objections were received from Leicestershire County Council on highways, flooding or archaeological grounds, and there were no objections from any other statutory consultees."

Speaking about the decision, Chairman of Planning Committee, Councillor Nigel Smith, said: "This was an application that generated a lot of interest from local people, especially around the loss of green space.

"However, the land has been earmarked for housing for many years and is allocated for this in the Local Plan.

"We have a duty as a local authority to make sure our district provides the housing that is required by our communities, so on balance the committee decided to permit the development.

"Committee members debated a number of issues, including the loss of grassland, the creation of an exemplar development."