120 homes to be built in Leicestershire despite four previous rejections

Despite facing four previous rejections from the Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, a developer has finally secured approval to construct up to 120 homes on the outskirts of the village of Desford in Leicestershire.

The most recent rejection, which took place in April of this year, was opposed by local residents, who lodged approximately 300 objections against the development.

Additionally, the proposal was unanimously denied by the members of the local authority’s planning committee.

One council member even expressed concern that granting permission to develop fields at Ashfield Farm on Kirkby Road would be considered “morally reprehensible” due to the existing strain on village services.

One of the concerns raised was the safety of children walking to school and a nearby recreation area close to the proposed development site.

The existing narrow sidewalks between the school and the recreation area often force children and parents to walk on the road, raising concerns among opponents of the project.

They argued that the increased traffic from the new homes would heighten the safety risk.

However, it was noted that Davidsons Homes had offered to construct a new, wider sidewalk as a condition for granting planning permission, therefore it was determined that this proposed sidewalk would effectively address the safety concerns.

Desford Parish Council was one of the opponents of the Ashfield Farm development plan.

In response to the appeal decision, they expressed their discontent, stating that 120 “unwanted homes” were now being forced upon the community, and their concerns regarding highway safety and traffic were essentially disregarded.