Five converted homes at Websters Dairy, 5 Main Street, Saxelbye

What was proposed

The application sought five homes from redundant dairy buildings, with two three-bedroom units, three two-bedroom units, parking and garden space.

“Proposal: Full planning application for the conversion of redundant dairy buildings to 5 no. Dwellings ( 2 x 3 bed units & 3 x 2 bed units), with associated car parking and garden space.”

Officer report

The site and its setting

The site was centrally located in Saxelbye, within open countryside and a Conservation Area, near two listed buildings.

“Main Report 2 The Site 2.1 Full planning permission is being sought for the conversion of a redundant dairy building at Webster’s Dairy into five dwellings. The site is located fairly centrally within the village of Saxelbye. The site is now redundant.”

Officer report

Earlier planning history

There was no recent history for the buildings, while a related application for two homes opposite was permitted in August 2025.

“The proposed development seeks to provide a total of five new dwellings for market sale. The housing mix will be 3 x 2 bed dwellings and 2 x 3 bed dwellings, and which would include 2 car parking spaces per dwelling. Each would have a small garden area. Due to the presence of bats, an EPSML would need to be secured from Natural England prior to the commencement of development.”

“A related application to the south side of Main Street opposite the site includes 24/01171/FUL Conversion of a commercial unit to 2 no. dwellings to include the addition of rear dormer windows - Permitted 11 August 2025. Proposal 4.1 The proposed development includes the use of the full building to create compact residential accommodation. Dwellings 1-3 will face westwards, with the first two plots being accessed from the side access path.”

Officer report

Who spoke at the meeting

The Parish Council, an objector, the agent and the ward councillor spoke about highway safety, parking, heritage, housing need and the scale of development.

What members debated

Members debated the number of homes and requested more information about conservation, highway safety, routes to school and visibility for unit three’s parking.

“Members felt that a decision could not be made without the Conservation Officer’s response and as they had concerns about road safety and safe routes to school for children and there being no visibility splays shown for the car parking for unit 3, more detail was requested on these matters. Therefore a deferment was considered to enable this information to be available to the committee.”

“Councillor Allnatt proposed that the application be deferred to enable additional information to be sought and made available to the committee on highway safety in relation to a road safety audit by the Leicestershire Highway Authority, more detail on visibility splays for car parking unit 3 as well as the statutory officer response from the Conservation Officer. Councillor Pritchett seconded the motion.”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

The committee deferred the application for a highway road safety audit, further visibility-splay details for unit three and the Conservation Officer’s response, by eight votes to one.

“RESOLVED That the application be DEFERRED to enable additional information to be sought and made available to the committee on highway safety in relation to a road safety audit by the Leicestershire Highway Authority, more detail on visibility splays for car parking unit 3 as well as the statutory officer response from the Conservation Officer.”

Minutes

Further conditions proposed

Three additional conditions concerned asbestos safety, surface-water drainage, and site levelling and retaining walls.

“Surface Water Drainage Prior to the first occupation of the dwellings hereby permitted, details of the method of surface water drainage for the site shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The submitted details shall ensure that all surface water coming onto the site can be adequately attenuated and dispersed without draining onto the highway.”

“Site levelling and retaining walls With the exception of site clearance works, there shall be no development until details of the levelling of the site and details of the retaining walls to the north and east boundaries, including sections, shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The levelling shall be undertaken in full accordance with the approved details.”

Minutes