Appeal lodged against refusal of traveller site

An appeal has been lodged against the refusal of a planning application for a traveller site in a town in Leicestershire.

A static caravan, gates and fencing were installed on land near Bouskell Park in Blaby without planning permission over the August bank holiday in 2025.

Blaby District Council then refused a retrospective application for the development in December.

The authority has now said applicant Martin McDonagh has asked the Planning Inspectorate to overturn the refusal.

The BBC has contacted the applicant's agent for comment.

A further appeal has also been lodged against an enforcement notice issued by the council requiring the area, off Sycamore Street, to be restored to its previous condition.

A deadline of 31 December for the restoration of the area has passed without the work taking place.

A council spokesperson said: "Blaby District Council has been notified of the submissions and is awaiting further information on the appeal route and timescales.

"Once the process is officially announced, all interested parties will be able to comment on the appeal application directly with the Planning Inspectorate."

The authority said it received 441 objections to the retrospective application and turned it down because it said the removal of the hedge "significantly harmed" the character of the area.

It also said the plot was close to the Grade II listed Blaby Hall estate and Victorian ice house, and the caravan site would form "a discordant feature" in the area.

In documents sent to the council, McDonagh said the scheme was intended "to provide accommodation for an extended gypsy/traveller family".

He said the development would meet a "pressing accommodation need" in the district.

However, the council said a number of previous applications for the site had been considered and were either refused or withdrawn.

It said a similar scheme for two caravan pitches plus a dayroom was rejected by its planning committee in May 2020 and a planning inspector then dismissed an appeal against the refusal in November 2022.

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