Lutterworth council rejects housing plans

Lutterworth council has rejected a controversial plan to build 250 homes on valuable farming, despite not having a five-year supply of housing land.

The plans had been filed by Mulberry Property Developments Limited and proposed to build properties on four fields. The company claimed the development would play an important role in helping to achieve the council’s goals for sustainable growth, while responding to the housing needs of the district.

However, the plan was opposed by Lutterworth Town Council on the grounds that the construction was outside the building limits of the town and that it would impact badly on the countryside.

District councillor Rosita Page said: "The application, if permitted, would erode the green separation area between Magna Park and Lutterworth. Due to the topography of the site I foresee possible flooding issues."

Geraldine Robinson, the Mayor of Lutterworth, said: "The application was refused unanimously by the district's planning committee. The reason for refusal was that it would encroach on the green separation are that divides Magna Park from Lutterworth."

A district planning officer told the committee in a report: "The under supply of housing in the council area is not a trump card that can be assumed to outweigh all other considerations.

"The proposal would detrimentally affect the character of this part of the landscape and result in a significant erosion of the gap between Lutterworth and Magna Park at one of its narrowest points.

"This harm is not outweighed by the housing land supply shortfall."