Plans to build up to 70 new homes at Asfordby are thrown out

Melton Council also refused the Station Lane scheme on the grounds that insufficient evidence had been provided about possible archaeological remains buried on the site.

Jelson had submitted an outline planning application to build the development on a greenfield site with an access on to Hoby Road.

But members of the planning committee agreed with an officer’s recommendation to refuse the plans at their meeting on Thursday.

A report which went before the meeting stated: “Asfordby itself is considered to be a sustainable location for housing development but the site is greenfield in nature and poorly related to the village and poorly served by public transport.

“It would protrude into the open countryside that forms the surrounds and setting of Asfordby, which would be particularly evident from approaches from the west (Hoby Rd).

“In addition it is contrary to the Asfordby Neighbourhood Plan which is now at an advanced stage of preparation.”

Councillors agreed that the outline proposals did not consider the ‘significant archaeological

potential’ in the site.

A fieldwalking survey there had previously unearthed 74 worked flints, including 40 tools, believed to date from the Early Bronze Age, with some Mesolithic and Neolithic pieces which have been re-used.

One letter of objection was received from a resident who expressed concerns about the extra traffic which would be generated.

“Traffic on Hoby Road deters many people from using the lane as cyclists, horse-riders and walkers as the need to leap into the hedgerow to avoid danger detracts from enjoyment,” the letter states.

The council welcomed the attempt to provide new housing for the borough, with an appropriate mix and proportion of affordable homes, but considered Melton already had an adequate supply of housing land.