The Planning Committee of North West Leicestershire Council is scheduled to consider two applications for Permission in Principle (PIP) for self-build dwellings. Both applications are located outside of defined settlement limits and are recommended for permission, with the report pack highlighting a significant shortfall in the provision of self-build plots within the district.

Permission in Principle for Two Self-Build Dwellings at Land Adjacent to 49 Church Lane, Ravenstone

The committee is scheduled to consider a report concerning an application for Permission in Principle for the erection of two self-build dwellings on land adjacent to 49 Church Lane, Ravenstone. This site is located outside the defined Limits to Development and is currently agricultural grazing land. The report indicates that while the proposal conflicts with the settlement hierarchy and countryside policies of the North West Leicestershire Local Plan (2021), specifically Policies S2 and S3, there are material considerations that may support its approval.

A key consideration is the council's duty under the Self-Build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015. The report details a significant shortfall in the provision of self-build plots, with an unmet demand of 31 plots for the current base period. The report suggests that granting permission for these two dwellings would contribute to addressing this shortfall, a factor given moderate weight in favour of the proposal.

While the report notes that the detailed design and layout are matters for the technical details consent stage, it is considered that an acceptable proposal could be brought forward that would not be harmful to the character of the area. Concerns raised by local residents regarding visual impacts, highway safety, and residential amenity are noted, but the report suggests these could be addressed at the technical details stage. The proposal would also result in the loss of agricultural land, but the magnitude of this loss is considered low.

Permission in Principle for a Single Self-Build Dwelling at Land to the East of 56 Loughborough Road, Coleorton

The committee is also scheduled to consider a report regarding an application for Permission in Principle for a single self-build dwelling on land to the east of 56 Loughborough Road, Coleorton. This site is also located outside the defined Limits to Development and is described as the side garden of the existing residential dwelling.

Similar to the Ravenstone application, this proposal conflicts with the settlement hierarchy and countryside policies of the North West Leicestershire Local Plan (2021) (Policies S2 and S3) and also with Policy H2 of the Swannington Neighbourhood Plan (2023). However, the report highlights the ongoing shortfall in self-build plots, with this application contributing to meeting the council's statutory duty. This contribution is given moderate weight in favour of the proposal.

The report suggests that the development would not adversely impact the character of the area or surrounding residential amenities, with detailed design and layout to be assessed at the technical details consent stage. Concerns regarding flood risk and ecology are also addressed, with the report indicating that these can be managed through appropriate measures at the technical details stage. The report also notes that the site is in an area of high risk for coal mining, but the Mining Remediation Authority has not raised an objection, provided a Coal Mining Risk Assessment is submitted for the technical details consent stage.

The report acknowledges that granting permission would conflict with the spatial strategy of the local and neighbourhood plans. However, it concludes that the adverse impacts of allowing this development would not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits, particularly in light of the significant unmet need for self-build plots.