Planning Team performance is on the up

HINCKLEY & Bosworth Borough Council’s planning department is now out-performing government targets after an influx of new staff arrived to work with the existing team.

Following several struggles in late 2020 until September 2022 - resulting from the pandemic and a higher than usual rate of staff turnover - planning performance has significantly increased over the past six months as new members of staff have joined existing planning officers to improve the customer focus and response.

This means residents have seen a vast improvement in the responses and updates to their queries, while the speed of processing applications has also increased significantly since last summer.

The council has been performing consistently above the government’s performance thresholds for both minor and major applications from October 2022. As well as this, 80 per cent of all minor applications have been turned around within target times since January this year - well above the government’s target of 70 per cent.

Stuart Bray, Council Leader, said: “Regrettably, some of the information currently being circulated in the press and on social media isn’t correct. We’re keen to allay people’s concerns about what this actually means, and to that end, I recently wrote to Dr Luke Evans MP clarifying the facts and seeking his help in ensuring these facts are understood and communicated accurately in future.”

In summary, the letter states:

The issue with performance was from late 2020 until September 2022. The council has always been transparent about the issues it experienced within the planning service and a cross party Scrutiny review of the service and issues, including performance levels, was publicly reported in November 2022

Performance for minor applications for the last two quarters of 22/23 was above the required government target of 70% and is currently over 80%

The threat of designation is not for the whole planning service; it is for minor applications only. The council does not face ‘losing control of planning’, as has been reported, but should it be designated, PINS could process minor applications only, and then only if the applicant chooses that route for their application, it would not be compulsory.

Council officers contacted government officials when the letter was received on 12 April and met with them on 26 April. Officers have also invited officials from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to visit the council and specifically meet with the planning team. This invite has been accepted.

The letter to the MP can be read in full on the council’s website here: www.hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk/lettermp

SDL Property Auctions are offering for sale BY AUCTION the former railway line between Thurcaston Road and Beaumont Leys Lane in Leicester.

The property extends to 6.52 acres or thereabouts and comprises a dismantled railway line.

Guide Price: £85,000+ plus fees. For sale BY AUCTION on Thursday 27th July 2023 –10.00am start.

Contact SDL Auctions on 0800 046 5454 or visit www.sdlauctions.co.uk

Single building plot in Ratby

NEWTON FALLOWELL are offering for sale a parcel of land at Wolsey Drive, Ratby, Leicester with planning permission (ref: 22/00035/ FUL) for a detached dwelling with a double garage and garden room.

Guide Price: £275,000.

Contact Newton Fallowell on 0116 366 5666 or email: lfe@ newtonfallowell.co.uk

MR TIM BALE (c/o Agent: JED Design, 23 Harborough Road, Desborough, NN14 2QX) – Erection of 2 dwellings – at land to the rear of 39, 41 & 43 North End, Hallaton, Leicestershire.

MR & MRS PEAKE (c/o Agent: Tim Adams Architects Ltd, Westwood Studios, 59 Bitteswell Road, Lutterworth, Leics. LE17 4EP) –Demolition of existing dwelling and commercial buildings and erection of 7 dwellings (Reserved Matters) –at 33 Dunton Road, Broughton Astley, Leics. LE9 6NA.

CRANE (c/o Agent: Hester Dalton, Sworders, The Gatehouse, Hadham Hall, Little Hadham, Ware SG11 2EB) – Change of use of an agricultural building to 4 dwellings

– at Astley Grange Farm, Back Lane, East Langton, Leics. LE16 7TB.

MR TIMOTHY BALE (c/o Agent: JED Design, 23 Harborough Road, Desborough NN14 2QX) – Erection of single storey rear extension to The Old Vicarage, conversion of outbuildings to form 2 dwellings and creation of two vehicular accesses

– at The Old Vicarage, Main Street, Tugby, Leics. LE7 9WD.

TELFORD FIVE LTD (c/o Agent: Mr Joe Nugent, Brownshore Management, Technology House, Halesfield 7, Telford, Shropshire TF7 4NA) – Outline application for the development of up to 17 self-build residential dwellings (Resubmission)

– at land north of Broughton Way, Broughton Astley, Leics.

MR T NASH (c/o Agent: Mr T Millican, Msquare Architects Ltd, 1 Mstudio, Talbot Yard, Market Harborough, Leics. LE16 7NP)

– Erection of 2 dwellings – at 116 Scotland Road, Market Harborough, Leics. LE16 8AY.

BHAVNA KHOLIA (c/o Agent: Mr Jason Brindley, MJ Barrett Developments, Brookside Business Park, Brookside Road, Uttoxeter ST14 8AU) – Conversion and change of use of retail units to 4 dwellings (Variation of Condition 2 of 21/00331/FUL) – at 136 Station Road, Broughton Astley, Leics. LE9 6PW.

Melton Borough

MR MANDEEP SINGH (c/o Agent: Lance Wiggins, Lion Planning, 14 Woodhouse Road, Quorn, Leics.

LE12 8ED) - Enabling works for the implementation of planning permission reference 22/00404/FUL for the erection of 73 dwellings with associated vehicular access, parking, landscaping and public open space –at Field OS 4100, Lake Terrace, Melton Mowbray, Leics.

Three properties for sale with APB

THE FOLLOWING three properties will be of interest to local builders and developers:

• Residential development site at 202 Loughborough Road, Mountsorrel, Leics. LE12 7AX Planning permission (refs: P/18/1747/2 and P/18/1032/2) has been granted and implemented for 4 detached three-bed dwellings. Price on application.

• Residential development site at 106 Sports Road, Glenfield, Leicester LE3 8AJ – Planning permission (ref: 20/0748/FUL) has been granted for 3 detached dwellings (2 three-bed and 1 four-bed). Price on application.

• Residential development site at Lower Moor Road, Coleorton, Coalville, Leics. LE67 8FN – Planning permission (ref: 18/01237/REM) has been granted for 4 fourbed detached dwellings. Price on application. Contact APB for more information on 0116 254 0382 or email: pc@apbleicester.co.uk

Funding secured for £24m Build to Rent scheme in Leicester

UNITED TRUST BANK (UTB) is providing £15.3m of funding to growing Build to Rent developer Oblix Living to complete their conversion of Saxon House in central Leicester.

Founded in 2020 by Rishi Passi and Anthony James, Oblix Living is a specialist developer, investor and operator of residential rental assets in strategically selected locations across the UK. It develops mid-sized schemes in urban areas where there is demand for well serviced rental accommodation. Its developments are service led, technology enabled and focus on young professionals seeking flexibility, security and amenities fit for modern day living.

Saxon House was built in 1993 and occupied by HMRC until 2021. It was acquired by Oblix Living in 2022 with plans to convert the 89,000 square foot, six storey former office building into ‘The Saxons’, comprising 100, one and two bedroom apartments with a gym, workspace, residents lounge and 28 resident car parking spaces.

Specialist lender, United Trust Bank, is providing the £15.3m of funding required to complete the scheme which has an estimated GDV of £24m. This is the second Oblix Living development supported by UTB which also provided £11m towards the developer’s £17.2m, 95 apartment scheme at Iron Yard in Sheffield city centre, which is now complete and leasing up.