Residential traveller pitch at Land On The East Side Of Sycamore Street, Blaby, Leicester

The site and its setting

The vegetated former allotment fronts Sycamore Street within the Blaby Conservation Area, near Blaby Hall, Bouskell Park and two listed heritage assets.

“The application site is a vegetated piece of land that was formerly an allotment garden. The site fronts Sycamore Street an arterial route through Blaby and is part of an extensive area of Green space that includes the formal grounds of Blaby Hall (Grade II Listed) and Bouskell Park which includes the renovated Ice House (Grade II Listed) and together forms a significant portion of the Blaby Conservation Area.”

“Historic Maps show no significant town centre within the immediate area. Additionally the historic maps show no significant historic built form within the application site. A band of land also owned by the applicant separates the site from the boundaries of Bouskell Park.”

Officer report

Why officers recommended refusal

Officers found substantial harm to the landscape, conservation area and listed-building settings, and identified an unresolved need for an ecology survey.

“The Blaby Conservation Area can be divided into three character areas: the primarily residential areas to the north of Church Street; the developed area around Hall Farm, and the historic landscape associated with Blaby Hall and Bouskell Park. While it is unclear if the application site was formerly part of the ownership of Blaby Hall, it is a vegetated piece of land east of Sycamore Street undoubtedly within the later character area.”

“As stated above, the proposal is considered to be contrary to the character and appearance of the area and, similarly, will harm the character and appearance of the Blaby Conservation Area.”

Officer report

What consultees said

Planning and ecology consultees raised objections or requested further information, while highways and minerals consultees raised no objections subject to requirements or because of the development’s scale.

“Map 15 in the Neighbourhood Plan designates the proposed site as countryside. BNP3 in the Neighbourhood Plan relating to countryside states that “The area designated as Countryside, would not be suitable for built development, or other development which would have a significantly adverse effect on the appearance or character of the landscape (Blaby Core Strategy Policy CS18).”

“Leicestershire County Council Mineral and Waste – site is within a minerals safeguarding area for sand and gravel. No objections due to the location and scale of the proposed development.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The ward member and a parish councillor were invited to give five-minute presentations.

The committee’s decision

The committee refused the application because of harm to the landscape and conservation area, listed-building settings and wildlife habitats.

“The development is situated in land designated as Countryside and is within the Blaby Conservation Area. The proposed residential Gypsy and Traveller caravan site will form a discordant feature in the verdant green street scene of Sycamore Street / Welford Road and the parkland setting of Bouskell Park.”

“The applicant has failed to demonstrate that the proposal would not affect the habitats for wildlife and protected species by way of an ecology survey in accordance with the ODPM Regulations which require protected species surveys to be submitted prior to determination of a planning application contrary to Policies CS9, CS18 and CS19 of the Blaby District Local Plan (Core Strategy) Development Plan Document (2013), SA4 and DM2 of the Local Plan (Delivery) Development Plan…”

Minutes