Green light for 60 new homes on playing fields

Plans have been approved to create a new housing estate on playing fields near a school in Leicester, despite objections from residents.

Leicester City Council has granted Barratt David Wilson Homes permission to build 60 homes on land off Heacham Drive, near Beaumont Leys School.

However some people living nearby have criticised the plans, saying they were told when they bought their homes the open space would be used for recreational purposes.

According to planning documents, some open green space will be left in the north part of the site.

The scheme marks the next phase of the City Heights development, which has already seen more than 300 homes built in the area, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The new homes will be a mix of two to five-bed properties, with 20% classed as affordable.

The vacant greenfield plot, south of Heacham Drive, was previously allocated as open space and a playing field within the Leicester City Core Strategy.

However, in the city's new local plan – a document which sets out where developments can and cannot be built – adopted earlier this year, the land was earmarked for residential purposes.

The planning inspector justified the change as the open space provides a "minimal" contribution to the local green network.

Dozens of "appalled" neighbours opposed the application.

One resident living opposite the proposed site told the council they were "assured" that space would be designated for sports facilities – a commitment which "significantly influenced" their decision to purchase the home.

They said: "The plan has now been changed entirely. The community needs open green spaces and dedicated areas for recreation, as originally promised."

Another said: "The proposed development would result in the loss of valuable open space that was explicitly promised to existing residents as part of the original master plan.

"Many families purchased their homes with the expectation that this land would be used for community purposes. To now replace that with additional housing is both misleading and deeply disappointing."

Under the planning conditions, Barratt David Wilson Homes will pay roughly £58,000 towards local NHS facilities and £50,000 towards improvements to the Beaumont Leys multi-use games area.

Building works will be restricted to weekdays and Saturday mornings, and must commence before July 22, 2029.

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