Go-ahead tipped for major housing plans

The go-ahead has been tipped for major housing proposals aiming to provide new homes on agricultural land in Leicestershire.Owl Partnerships Ltd is seeking planning approval to develop 99 properties at the site of Garden Farm on Bagworth Road in Barlestone.The housing mix proposed comprises 50 affordable rented units and 49 shared ownership units.This includes ten one-bed maisonettes, 43 two-bed houses, 40 three-bed houses and six, four-bed houses.Comprising of a farmhouse, associated buildings and an area of paddock land, the site forms part of a wider area of open countryside and measures approximately 8.8 acres.A Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council document published ahead of its planning committee meeting on 30 March said: “Whilst there is conflict with the strategic policies of the development plan, only limited localised landscape harm has been identified.”It is considered on balance that this level of harm does not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the identified benefits of the scheme in delivering 99 affordable houses when assessed against the framework as a whole.”Therefore, the presumption in favour of sustainable development does apply in this case and material considerations outweigh the conflict with some elements of the development plan.”The scheme has been recommended for approval, subject to conditions.