Revised plans lodged for major apartment project

Revised plans have been lodged for more than 200 apartments in Leicester in a pair of buildings rising to 14 storeys.The Hornbeam Partnership has submitted a full planning application for the redevelopment of a site at 100 Church Gate.The site is occupied by a Matalan retail unit constructed in the 1980s and its associated car park.Proposed is the replacement of the retail building and car park with two buildings rising to six and 14 storeys, which would contain a total of 222 apartments.The development includes a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units.The submission of this application follows a previous proposal by the applicant, which was refused under delegated powers on 14 November 2022.Since the refusal of the previous planning application, the applicant has carried out pre-application engagement with officers from Leicester City Council to develop a scheme that “addresses the previous reasons for refusal”.A design and access statement said: “The site occupies a highly sustainable location and the development has been designed to leverage this and encourage sustainable patterns of travel.”The site’s location in the city centre means that shops, services and transport hubs are all within easy walking distance of the site.”Moreover, substantial secure cycle parking provision (195 spaces) is made in the scheme, which ought to encourage residents to travel by bicycle.”The development will provide external and internal amenity spaces, and a private garden which will encourage and support a good and healthy lifestyle.”