Regulation 19 - Proposed Draft Local Plan Submission

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Change, or add to, the wording to acknowledge these limitations.

TB1

The site comprises two current fields. Regarding the southern field:

1. Location
Bushby is a linear settlement on a ridge, either side of the A47. At the moment the approach from the east is very attractive, any properties are sparse, set back with extensive green frontages. Also, the Wadkins Sports Field contributes to the greenness. This has the effect of the gradually changing from rural to urban on the approach to Leicester. Any houses built up to the hedge will be out of character and spoil this approach. This high part of the field would be ideally suited to provide informal public access recreational provision, supported by the Wadkins sports facilities nearby. The gradual green approach to Bushby would thereby the retained.

2. Topography
The field has a steep escarpment which couldn’t be considered for building. Also, it would be unsuitable for allocation as a wildlife or recreational area, both because of the terrain and the adjacent extensive badger setts which need a 30-metre buffer zone. In fact, a planning application for this field (HDC Planning Reference Number 18/00312/OUT) was refused because:
“The development will have adverse landscape impact, particularly from that proposed on the sloping southern part of the site, and is contrary to Core Strategy policy CS17.”

3. Environment
A badger feeding corridor needs to be left adjacent to the eastern and southern hedges.

4. Drainage
Because of the extensive use by badgers for feeding areas by the hedges and two large badger sett complexes in the north-eastern part of the field, there can be no surface water drainage pipes, swales or SUDS next to the eastern boundary of the field.

5. Access
Access via the A47 adds unacceptable pressure on that road which is already the only access to the east from Leicester and Scraptoft (which are also scheduled for more development) and the emerging Thorpebury development.

6. Public transport
The only service is the LC7 (formerly the 747). This is an LCC subsidised service, reviewed annually, mainly existing to provide transport for students in Uppingham to higher education facilities in Leicester. There are two-hour gaps in this service during the day.

7. Conclusion
Potential for building in the southern field is limited because of the constraints.
We feel there should be no more building in the Thurnby Brook Valley

Change, or add to, the wording to acknowledge these constraints.

SA04 Scraptoft East (S1)

1. Northern part adjacent to Covert Lane.
Covert Lane is a very ancient ridge walk from Leicester to Stamford and is today still an attractive recreational walk, petering out into designated footpaths, bridleways and byways as it heads east. Being a ridge route, by its very nature is extremely exposed being visible from miles around. The thought of Covert Lane being turned into a busy access road for the proposed housing just isn’t acceptable. We would suggest a substantial green corridor (open space) adjacent to Covert Lane that would preserve the Lane’s recreation use.
We support the important Green Wedge to conserve the heart of the Thurnby Brook valley.

2. The Southern part, adjacent to existing housing.

This land is at a higher level than the existing housing which is cut into the slope. Much of this existing housing is bungalows. Those bungalows on Station Lane blend into the ever-increasing gradient of the slope going northwards, as their ridge heights decrease, ceasing altogether at the top where there is no housing. All this adjacent existing housing would suffer from overlooking, being on lower ground.

3. Both parts.

3(a) Exposed and Flood Risk
Both parts of S1 are extremely exposed as the land slopes steeply from south to north. No amount of mitigation to screen it is possible on steep sloping higher ground. All surface water will run downhill directly towards existing housing. Leybury Way has always been very vulnerable to flooding problems.

3 (b) Lack of road capacity
The only access to S1 would be via Station Lane. This already acts as the unofficial outer ring road for Leicester, connecting Oadby to Syston as this section of the A563 ring road was never completed. Also, this road is the only direct realistic access to the east via the A47. Consequently, there is chronic lack of capacity. Often, there are tailbacks towards Scraptoft from the A47 at the Station Road junction traffic lights.

4. Conclusion
We suggest this site cannot be considered for more housing.