Housing on former playing field set for approval

Plans to build 60 homes on a former playing field in Leicester are set to be given the go-ahead.

Leicester City Council's planning and development control committee is recommended to approve proposals on Wednesday from Barratt David Wilson North Midlands for a housing scheme on land off Heacham Drive in Beaumont Leys.

A report prepared for councillors states that 12 of the homes in the proposed development would be classed as affordable housing.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service two previous applications for the area, of 96 and 76 homes, had been rejected because of concerns including a lack of open space in the schemes.

However, the developer previously told city council planners the reduced number of houses put forward this time had allowed it to increase the amount of open space left at the northern edge of the site.

According to a council report, 13 objections were made about the proposed development - most of which have raised concerns about the loss of open space and road safety.

However, the document concludes the proposals are "acceptable" in relation to highway safety, ecology and flood risk.

The application will be subject to a section 106 legal agreement in which the developer will pay towards services in the area, including parks and green spaces, the report adds.

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