Sycamore Street change of use rejected
Council planning committee members have rejected a retrospective application to change the use of land at Sycamore Street in Blaby village.
The proposal sought to change the use of part of the land to enable the siting of a residential static caravan and a touring caravan.
The application was submitted on the Friday prior to the August Bank Holiday, but before it could be validated unauthorised works were carried out. Hedges were cleared to enlarge the access and gates erected, while hardstanding was laid to enable the siting of the static caravan and touring caravan.
A number of applications for development on the site have come before Blaby District Council and been withdrawn or refused.
A similar scheme for two caravan pitches plus a dayroom was rejected by planning committee in May 2020, then dismissed on appeal in November 2022. At that time, the government Planning Inspector said the proposal was "entirely discordant with the otherwise undeveloped and thickly vegetated character of this prominent stretch of land fronting the grounds to Blaby Hall and Bouskell Park."
While the new retrospective application focused on an altered, smaller scheme, planning committee members upheld the officers’ recommendation to refuse.
They agreed the change of use of the land was unacceptable in an area classed as countryside and close to historic sites forming an important part of the conservation area.
Councillor Susan Findlay, vice-chairman of the planning committee, said: "We have rejected a number of planning applications for development on this former allotment site, all for the same reasons. This is a site in a conservation area on the edge of parkland with historic landmarks.
"We were content to agree with the officer recommendation to refuse this latest, retrospective application, satisfied they had judged it on its own merit. This scheme, while on a smaller scale, still fails to respect the distinctive local character of the area and is at odds with the green, leafy surroundings of Bouskell Park."
Councillor Susan Findlay
Vice Chairman of the Planning Committee