Land adjacent to Foston Road and Leicester Road, Countesthorpe, Leicestershire
Sold For Residential Development
Successful strategic land promotion in Countesthorpe, Leicestershire
Catesby Estates promoted 18.5 acres of land adjacent to Foston Road and Leicester Road for residential development and public open space.
Land promotion timeline for 18.5 acre land site in Countesthorpe:
An outline planning application was registered with Blaby District Council in January 2024, and went before planning committee in July 2024, receiving a majority in favour resolution to grant for 170 energy efficient homes; of which 25% are affordable, and public open space with play areas. The site also has excellent access to local services and facilities within the village of Countesthorpe.
Outline planning to sale in just ten months
The land sale to Miller Homes completed in October 2024, resulting in a 10 month turnaround from the submission of the application to a land sale.
Myron Osborne, Chief Executive of Catesby Estates, said “Achieving a local level consent for this non-allocated site and securing a buyer within a short time frame of just 10 months is testament to the hard work and skill of the in-house Catesby team, as well as the appetite from housebuilders to acquire prime residential land.”
“This deal represents our second sale to Miller Homes in recent months, and with a reputation for delivering high quality, award-winning new homes, we look forward to seeing them take this through its final planning stages and delivering sought-after, energy efficient homes for the area.”
Planning background
The site was subject to an outline planning application (ref: 16/0843/OUT) for the development of up to 170 new homes which was refused planning permission by Blaby District Council in November 2016. A subsequent appeal against the refusal of planning permission was dismissed in 2017 (ref: APP/T2405/W/16/3164730).
The independent appeal decision determined several important points:
- the proposed development would be conveniently located to local services and facilities, would have social and economic benefits in respect of providing new dwellings to meet the needs of present and future generation and would provide local construction employment opportunities
- the proposed development would also make a worthwhile contribution to the supply of housing and help boost the Council’s five year housing supply
- the affordable housing the proposed development would bring, would eradicate the need for such accommodation in Countesthorpe
- the provision of a revised junction between Foston Road and Leicester Road would ease current capacity issues as well as considerably improving egress for vehicles from Ladbroke Grove, Buckingham Road and the surrounding roads
- the proposed development would not have a significantly harmful effect on the character and appearance of the area
In dismissing the appeal, the Inspector concluded
“Nevertheless, the benefits of the scheme, and the absence of significant harm I have identified above, should be viewed in the context of my findings that the council can demonstrate a five year supply of housing land, and that the development plan is up-to-date and in accordance with the Framework. The material considerations advanced by the appellant are not sufficient to indicate that the proposal should be determined other than in accordance with the development plan”.
Since the determination of the appeal there has been a recent material change in circumstance of relevance to the Inspectors above conclusions.
On 27 September 2023 Blaby District Council published an updated ‘Residential Land Availability Report’ stating that the Council can now only demonstrate 3.69 years housing land supply, representing a shortfall of at least 548 homes against the five year requirement.
The Council’s Core Strategy adopted in 2013 is now 10 years old and work on the replacement Local Plan is still at an early stage. National Planning Policy (i.e., the Framework) states that where a local planning authority cannot demonstrate a five year supply of deliverable housing sites (as is now the case in Blaby) planning permission for new housing should be granted “unless any adverse impacts of doing so would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits”.
With reference to the independent appeal Inspectors’ conclusion that the proposal for new housing on the site would not result in any significant harm, it was our belief that the recognised benefits of the proposals now warrant the grant of planning permission.
Promoting your strategic land in Leicestershire with Catesby Estates
We’re actively seeking strategic land sites in Leicestershire. With a proven track record and strong success rate, landowners in the county are welcome to contact us.
Site Specifics
18.5 Acre Site (7.5 Hectares)
Up to 170 New Homes
Affordable Homes - 25% of the homes (i.e., up to 43 homes) will be affordable housing, comprising a mixture of affordable homes for rent and affordable routes to home-ownership (such as shared ownership, First Homes or rent to buy).
The affordable rented homes will be allocated to eligible households on the waiting list, with priority given to local residents or those with a local connection.
Public Open Space - The eastern boundary has a landscaped edge proposed for attenuation, green landscaping, public open space and a play area.
Ecology - A range of wildlife friendly features have been incorporated (i.e., bat and bird boxes, hedgehog highways), in addition to soft landscaping which will include habitats such as grasslands (featuring wildflower) and large vegetative buffers to the boundaries providing a permeable site for wildlife.
Drainage and Flooding - The developable area of the site falls within an area classified as “Flood Zone 1 - Low Probability of Flooding” by the Environment Agency (the lowest risk category and is considered suitable for residential properties in national policy.
The site boundary extends to the Countesthorpe Brook, a tributary of the River Sence, however this area is not proposed for development.
Highways and Access - Two vehicle and pedestrian access points to the site are proposed from Foston Road and Leicester Road. The proposals also continue to include a revised junction between Foston Road and Leicester Road which will ease capacity issues as well as considerably improving egress for vehicles from Ladbroke Grove, Buckingham Road and the surrounding roads in this area.
Farm accesses are proposed to the north west and east of the site.
The existing Public Right of Way is retained along the western and northern boundary. Pedestrian routes and connections are proposed within the site to provide direct access and routes through the proposed Public Open Space.
Sustainability and Climate Change - Homes both new and existing account for 20% of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK.
To mitigate climate change, as well as help keep down household energy costs, the proposed homes will achieve a 31% reduction in carbon emissions (compared to the previous regulations) through a range of sustainable design measures including:
- Photovoltaic (solar) panels, heat pumps and triple glazing
- Insulation standards for walls, floors and roofs that significantly limit any heat loss
- ‘A’ rated appliances
- Rainwater harvesting facilities
- Use of water efficiency measures to achieve the Government’s enhanced water consumption target of 110 litres per person per day
- Infrastructure for electric vehicle charging will also be provided at each property
Successful strategic land promotion in Countesthorpe, Leicestershire
Catesby Estates promoted 18.5 acres of land adjacent to Foston Road and Leicester Road for residential development and public open space.
Land promotion timeline for 18.5 acre land site in Countesthorpe:
An outline planning application was registered with Blaby District Council in January 2024, and went before planning committee in July 2024, receiving a majority in favour resolution to grant for 170 energy efficient homes; of which 25% are affordable, and public open space with play areas. The site also has excellent access to local services and facilities within the village of Countesthorpe.
Outline planning to sale in just ten months
The land sale to Miller Homes completed in October 2024, resulting in a 10 month turnaround from the submission of the application to a land sale.
Myron Osborne, Chief Executive of Catesby Estates, said “Achieving a local level consent for this non-allocated site and securing a buyer within a short time frame of just 10 months is testament to the hard work and skill of the in-house Catesby team, as well as the appetite from housebuilders to acquire prime residential land.”
“This deal represents our second sale to Miller Homes in recent months, and with a reputation for delivering high quality, award-winning new homes, we look forward to seeing them take this through its final planning stages and delivering sought-after, energy efficient homes for the area.”
Planning background
The site was subject to an outline planning application (ref: 16/0843/OUT) for the development of up to 170 new homes which was refused planning permission by Blaby District Council in November 2016. A subsequent appeal against the refusal of planning permission was dismissed in 2017 (ref: APP/T2405/W/16/3164730).
The independent appeal decision determined several important points:
- the proposed development would be conveniently located to local services and facilities, would have social and economic benefits in respect of providing new dwellings to meet the needs of present and future generation and would provide local construction employment opportunities
- the proposed development would also make a worthwhile contribution to the supply of housing and help boost the Council’s five year housing supply
- the affordable housing the proposed development would bring, would eradicate the need for such accommodation in Countesthorpe
- the provision of a revised junction between Foston Road and Leicester Road would ease current capacity issues as well as considerably improving egress for vehicles from Ladbroke Grove, Buckingham Road and the surrounding roads
- the proposed development would not have a significantly harmful effect on the character and appearance of the area
In dismissing the appeal, the Inspector concluded
“Nevertheless, the benefits of the scheme, and the absence of significant harm I have identified above, should be viewed in the context of my findings that the council can demonstrate a five year supply of housing land, and that the development plan is up-to-date and in accordance with the Framework. The material considerations advanced by the appellant are not sufficient to indicate that the proposal should be determined other than in accordance with the development plan”.
Since the determination of the appeal there has been a recent material change in circumstance of relevance to the Inspectors above conclusions.
On 27 September 2023 Blaby District Council published an updated ‘Residential Land Availability Report’ stating that the Council can now only demonstrate 3.69 years housing land supply, representing a shortfall of at least 548 homes against the five year requirement.
The Council’s Core Strategy adopted in 2013 is now 10 years old and work on the replacement Local Plan is still at an early stage. National Planning Policy (i.e., the Framework) states that where a local planning authority cannot demonstrate a five year supply of deliverable housing sites (as is now the case in Blaby) planning permission for new housing should be granted “unless any adverse impacts of doing so would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits”.
With reference to the independent appeal Inspectors’ conclusion that the proposal for new housing on the site would not result in any significant harm, it was our belief that the recognised benefits of the proposals now warrant the grant of planning permission.
Promoting your strategic land in Leicestershire with Catesby Estates
We’re actively seeking strategic land sites in Leicestershire. With a proven track record and strong success rate, landowners in the county are welcome to contact us.
Nov 25, 2024