Green Light For New Homes & Local Amenities In Leicestershire Village

Eight new semi-detached homes, a modern public car park with EV charging and a community square will be built in a Leicestershire village, following support from planning experts at Marrons.

Councillors at Harborough District Council’s planning committee have given developer Besh Limited the green light to build the properties on land just off Fleckney high street, which was originally earmarked for new shops and flats.

However, a lack of interest from retail occupiers led the developer to amend the scheme to provide a more appropriate mix of housing that better meets the needs of residents.

The village community square, designed by Tom Wright at FPCR, will act as a gateway into the housing development and provide residents with access to communal outdoor green space, while the two and three-bedroomed homes, designed by Anil Parmar and Steve Milan from CPMG Architects, will be served by two off-road parking spaces and spacious back gardens.

Alongside 18 spaces, the car park, designed by Lewis McAuliffe from ITP, will provide EV charging facilities and cycle parking provision.

Sachin Parmar, planning director at Marrons, led the proposals alongside planning assistant Isabella Ingram. Sachin said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have secured planning permission for eight new family homes in Fleckney following positive collaboration with the council’s officers.

“The amended planning application has reconfigured the site, so it is fit for purpose – removing elements of the previously approved scheme that were at risk of being unsuccessful in contributing to the village’s needs.

“The updated proposal presented a simplified layout with focus on high-quality design to secure sustainable development in line with market demands.

“As a result, the village will gain a modern car park, which will support the high street and surrounding community facilities, and a new public green space with bat and bird boxes, an insect tower, and seating areas.

“Furthermore, the residents of the new housing scheme will contribute footfall and expenditure to Fleckney’s existing retail and service provision – providing an economic boost.”

In its planning application, socio-economic analysis from Marrons found that expenditure generated by future residents of the scheme would be unlikely to support the retail units that were originally proposed, but will provide benefit to the existing local established retail centre. The units were also marketed by a commercial agent with no interest.

Simon Macklen, director of economics at Marrons, said: “There continues to be a greater need for family homes within the local area. A mix of two and three-bedroom homes with gardens will better cater for the needs of local people and will provide appropriate accommodation to first-time buyers, young families and older people wishing to downsize.”

Anna Cartledge, planning partner at Shakespeare Martineau, is providing a legal agreement to ensure the public benefits are delivered as part of the scheme.