Permission in principle secured for 4x new dwellings proposed in Queniborough, Leicestershire

The Plainview Planning team have been working on a development project within the Charnwood Borough Council to help realise the true potential of a site. The land presently includes a single dwelling set within spacious grounds which is adjacent to, but outside the village settlement boundary, of Queniborough, Leicestershire. The site is also within an Area of Local Separation which is intended to prevent neighbouring villages from coalescing.

Local authorities generally encourage residential development within existing settlement boundaries, so those outside such boundaries often require careful justification. Our initial feasibility study established that the adopted Development Plan and its policy maps were out of date and arguably carry reduced weight. We also found that there is an identified need for additional housing within the Charnwood borough, identified within the Leicester and Leicestershire Housing and Economic Development Needs Assessment (HEDNA 2017).

Following our review, it was clear to us that Charnwood and Queniborough are under pressure to provide additional housing sites. This housing need has been acknowledged by the emerging Local Plan which includes proposed site allocations to provide 155 houses within the Area of Local Separation adjacent to Queniborough. These sites will significantly reduce the size and impact of the Area of Local Separation between Queniborough and East Goscote to which the application site is located. It also shows a direction of travel in terms of extension of the settlement boundary of Queniborough to account for the required homes in the area.

With this information, we prepared a case to guide and support the addition of 4 high quality family dwellings on the site to help meet the identified housing need.

Permission in principle was granted by Charnwood Borough Council in January 2021. We look forward to working with our client on the next Technical Matters stage.

How we can help you with your development aspirations

This case provides a prime example of how planning consultants can unlock the value of a site through a detailed review of emerging Local Plan evidence and case studies. The outcome is a proposal for a positive residential development in a sensitive location, which meets an identified housing need.

If you are looking for a planning consultancy to help you achieve your development aspirations then please contact our planning team via enquiries@plainview.co.uk.  Alternatively you can call us on 01242 501003 to see how we can best assist you, providing the site address and a brief overview of your project. We value your privacy and any information which you provide will not be shared outside of our company and will only be used in relation to your enquiry.

Image source:

Homescape Architecture (2020)