Proposal for major housing estate raises concerns amongst Loughborough residents

A new housing estate with up to 500 houses on the outskirts of Loughborough has been unveiled.

Bloor Homes has submitted a complete proposal to Charnwood Borough Council for 133 new houses, including a play area and public open space.

This marks the initial phase of a more extensive project, which, if approved, would ultimately consist of 480 to 500 houses.

The land off of Laburnum Way is currently used as horse paddocks and farmland and is situated next to Rainbows Children’s Hospice and Woodbrook Vale Secondary School.

Local residents have raised concerns that this development may create safety hazards for children on the access road, obstruct nearby views, which include Outwoods Nature Reserve and Beacon Hill Country Park and potentially displace current residents due to increased demands on local GP services and schools.

According to planning documents submitted by Bloor Homes, they conducted a consultation prior to submitting the application. The documents read: “The loss of open space, trees and hedgerows likely to be caused by the development and the potential to increase the risk of flooding were raised under consultation. The development will incorporate extensive open space provision, making parts of the site currently inaccessible to the public available for recreation and play. The document also says some trees and hedgerows will be kept, with new planting taking place to ‘mitigate any losses’.