Blaby District Council is delighted to confirm that the Planning Inspectorate has dismissed an appeal against the Council’s refusal of planning permission for land off Sycamore Street in Blaby. This means the application remains refused.

The application to change of use of land for the stationing of caravans for residential purposes for two Gypsy pitches, together with the formation of hardstanding and utility/dayroom ancillary was submitted in January 2020.

Officers thoroughly examined the application against local and national planning policies, as well as consulting key stakeholders who provide a valuable technical input to planning applications in the district. More than 950 people listed their opposition, including Blaby Parish Council.

The application was refused in May 2020 due to the development being within the Blaby Conservation Area and causing significant harm to the character and appearance of the landscape.

Following the submission of an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate, a two-day hearing was held at the Council’s Narborough offices on 22-23 September 2022. The applicant and Council both made their cases to the Planning Inspector, Mr Jonathan Price. Many local residents also gave their views at the hearing.

Following examination of the case, Mr Price dismissed the appeal on 21 November. In his judgement, the appeal was dismissed due to the proposal being “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.”

The judgement also stated: “The Gypsy pitches would comprise a highly incongruous feature, out of keeping with their surroundings and unrelated to the prevailing pattern of development.”

Mr Price added the scheme would cause considerable ‘heritage harm’, failing to preserve the character or the appearance of the Conservation Area or the settings of the listed Blaby Hall and Icehouse.

Councillor Ben Taylor, Portfolio Holder for Planning Delivery and Enforcement and Corporate Transformation, said: “We are delighted that the Planning Inspectorate has come to the correct decision to dismiss this baseless appeal.

“The reasons for our original refusal should have made it abundantly clear that this application was unwanted, unwelcome and inappropriate. This judgement has justified our original decision and vindicated the policies we have in place to prevent developments that will harm the local area.

“I want to thank our Officers who have worked incredibly hard on the original application and to fight this appeal. Their thorough and diligent work, coupled with our robust planning policies, has ensured that such a development was not able to take place.”

The applicant does have the right to appeal the refusal at the High Court and the Court of Appeal. Blaby District Council would like to affirm its intention to defend its decision if any further appeals are submitted.

Mr Price’s decision can be found using the link below.