Controversial plans for more than 350 homes in Barrow on Soar look likely to be approved despite fears the area is already at breaking point.
Charnwood Borough Council’s (CBC) plans committee will next week consider two housing developments in Barrow-upon-Soar which would together deliver 351 new homes.
The first would see 130 homes built on land off Cotes Road, while the second proposes 221 homes north of Willow Road, alongside land for a new primary school.
Both schemes are recommended for approval by CBC planning officers despite attracting dozens of objections from neighbours.
The Cotes Road application has also sparked a dispute between developers. Housebuilder William Davis Homes has objected to the Ashberry Strategic Land scheme, arguing it conflicts with a neighbouring masterplan already approved on appeal. The company claims the proposals would remove a previously approved road access into its site and reduce the number of homes that could be built there.
Residents argue the village’s roads, schools, GP services and drainage network are already struggling to cope.
In his objection, neighbour Anthony Dunn said: “The village cannot take any further housing developments. Both schools are full, the nursery is full, the GP services are full.”
Traffic was one of the most common concerns raised.
Vanessa and David Lane said Barrow had already taken “more than its fair share of development”, warning that congestion is regularly worsened when flooding closes routes out of the village.
Daniel LeBoutillier described the single-lane bridge used to reach the A6 as a major bottleneck and said further development risked turning surrounding villages into “one big car park” during busy periods.
Residents also questioned whether the village’s drainage infrastructure could cope with hundreds of additional homes.
Ian and Veronica Tansey said the sewer network serving part of Cotes Road had already been extended to accommodate previous developments and claimed that on two occasions overloaded sewers had resulted in human waste entering neighbouring gardens.
Planning reports acknowledge concerns over infrastructure but conclude both schemes are acceptable and should be approved.
By Caitlin James, Local Democracy Reporter