Plans for 54 affordable homes at Hugglescote site include assurances over Recreation Ground
Plans for a controversial affordable housing development in Hugglescote have been put before North West Leicestershire District Council.
An outline planning application to build 54 homes on land to the south of Ashburton Road was made this week.
The land is likely to be the Farmer's Field adjoining the 'Reccy' Recreation Ground.
The application has been made by Nottingham company MyPad c/o Marrons Planning.
But, a year ago, residents made it clear at a public meeting they did not want the development to take place.
At an Extraordinary meeting of Hugglescote & Donington le Heath Parish Council at the Community Centre, those present in May, 2024, were urged to make their objections known as soon as possible, in a bid to stop houses being built on part of the Recreation Ground.
This followed the landowners, The Harley Trust, issuing a statement confirming that it had entered into a contract with MyPad, a privately-owned residential developer specialising in the delivery of partnership housing schemes.
The Trust said last year it wanted to transfer the lease for the Recreation Ground from North West Leicestershire District Council to the Parish Council.
Council chair Cllr Russell Johnson described the move, at the time, as a case of 'pulling the wool over people's eyes'.
Now the application has been submitted with plans for the proposed development - including assurances that no building will take place on the Recreation Ground itself.
A Planning Statement says the developers had already held a pre-application meeting with North West Leicestershire District Council in which the scheme could be 'strongly supported'.
It says: "The Council's written pre-application advice confirmed that there is significant and growing need for affordable housing across North West Leicestershire.
"As of June 2024, more than 1,000 households were on the Housing Register in need of rented affordable accommodation. It was also confirmed that there is particularly high demand for one and two-bedroom homes, alongside an increasing need for larger four-bedroom properties.
"In this context, the Council's Affordable Housing Enabler advised that any development offering a good mix of affordable housing would be strongly supported. A wholly affordable scheme, such as the one proposed, is clearly necessary to help meet this local need.
"The project team met directly with Hugglescote and Donington le Heath Parish Council and the Headteacher of the nearby primary school to discuss the plans and hear their views.
"They also contacted Ward Councillors and the Local MP to raise awareness of the proposals.
"Feedback raised strong local concerns, particularly around protecting green space, the impact of traffic, and the number of new homes in the area.
"In response, MyPad made changes to the scheme, including the proposed attenuation pond away from the recreation ground. MyPad also confirmed that no homes would be built on the recreation ground itself and offered enhancement to it as part of the proposals.
"The application site is located in Hugglescote, which forms part of the Coalville Urban Area. As the Principal Urban Area within the North West Leicestershire Planning's settlement hierarchy, Coalville is identified as the most sustainable location to accommodate new housing growth."
A Design and Access Statement, accompanying the application, says: "The Masterplan caters for up to 54, high-quality, new family homes with private amenity space, and considers the necessary requirement for infrastructure networks, including the potential provision of green infrastructure, and a new recreational area.
"The purpose of this is to provide a vision for residential use to the land known as Ashburton Road, Hugglescote. It is considered that the scheme could cater for affordable homes for families and accommodate for residents' future use and growth.
"The site is a logical enhancement to the existing residential boundaries and acts as an urban extension of Hugglescote village.
"It has a sustainable location adjacent to the existing residential community with local services available, as well as welcomed additions of new local services, provided through the new development. It is demonstrated through the detailed design of access for the delivery of up to 54 dwellings can be delivered without adverse effect on the existing highway network."
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