Landfill concerns see 165-home proposal refused
Councillors have refused plans for 165 homes in Glen Parva after developers failed to show how plans could accommodate potential landfill gas mitigation measures.
An application to build 165 homes on land off Cork Lane, Glen Parva was given outline approval in 2016. A Reserved Matters application was received by the Council in 2019 which sought approval for the appearance, landscaping, layout and scale of the development.
In this application, the developers changed the originally agreed approach to contamination in the outline planning application. The new approach would see the source of the contamination left in place, with the dwellings and their associated infrastructure designed in a way that protects them from the contamination below.
Concerns were raised for the safety of the surrounding neighbours and the future occupiers of the site. Following the appointment of an independent landfill gas consultant to analyse the information provided, five years of additional data gathering was recommended to inform what gas mitigation would be required.
The independent report also concluded the site’s layout could not be approved until these mitigation measures were known.
Whilst the rest of the application is deemed acceptable, Blaby District Council’s Planning Officers recommended the application for refusal as these issues were “…not outweighed by the material considerations in favour of approving the scheme, including the delivery of 165 dwellings…and the economic benefits of the construction process and occupation of the dwellings”.
The application was refused by members of Blaby District Council’s Planning Committee at its meeting on Thursday 19 May.
Councillor Louise Richardson, Planning Committee Chair, said: “We were pleased to support the Officer’s recommendation to refuse this proposal. Members of the Committee were greatly concerned that nowhere near enough had been done to understand if the plans could accommodate future mitigation measures of this former landfill site.
“We hope this sends a message to residents and developers that anyone who wants to build on landfill sites must present robust and acceptable plans. We will not gamble these potential benefits for long-term health risks.”
The refusal of this Reserved Matters application also means that the original Outline planning permission has now expired unless the applicant chooses to appeal or legally challenge the Council’s decision.