Green light for almost 900 Leicestershire homes

Planning permission for almost 900 homes in Leicestershire has been granted to L&Q Estates.

Blaby District Council’s planning committee narrowly passed the scheme, in Kirby Muxloe, by a vote of 5-4.

Pegasus Group acted on behalf of L&Q to land the green light for some 885 new homes.

Section 106 agreements include contributions towards community facilities, libraries and health care facilities.

The application was originally submitted in 2019 but revised in November 2021 to include additional parcels of land.

Richard Edwards, group land and planning director at L&Q Estates, said: “This decision is the result of much hard work and proactive collaboration with the council. The approved scheme will not only meet the identified housing needs of local people but also makes a significant step towards delivering a much-needed new primary school.”

Pegasus Group project managed the planning application and environmental statement, led on the design and masterplanning of the scheme, landscape and visual assessment work and advised on matters of heritage and archaeology.

Associate planner, Georgine Doyle, said: “As with any proposal of this scale, there have been potential impacts to work through and we have committed to working closely with the council throughout the determination period to address these and to secure a positive recommendation and approval at committee.

“The scheme will make a huge contribution towards meeting housing needs in the district and beyond which, in the current climate, is something to be celebrated.”

James Fairweather (associate urban designer) led the design and masterplanning team from initial concept through to the masterplan.

He said: “The residential areas proposed are balanced out by an extensive network of public open spaces, parks and play areas for the benefit of the new community. We will retain a high proportion of the existing trees and hedgerows, and provide large areas for new planting to flourish, creating an attractive place to live.

“We have worked collaboratively for a number of years to deliver a high-quality masterplan that will benefit future residents for generations to come. The design is focused on a series of linked public open spaces that create safe walking and cycling routes around the site and lots of green spaces for children and adults to enjoy.”