Objections made to proposed housing developments across Rutland
Objections have been made to the majority of sites being considered for future housing developments.
Projections show that 1,309 homes could be built in Rutland during the next 16 years.
Locations in Oakham, Uppingham, Edith Weston, Ryhall, Empingham and Stamford have been put forward as possible development sites but the public response has been overwhelmingly critical.
People have voiced concerns about the negative impact on wildlife and road safety along with worries about flood risks and the lack of infrastructure to support more residents.
The proposal for 28 homes at Whitwell Road in Empingham - which would enable the development of a new GP surgery - is the only site which attracted more support than opposition during an initial round of public consultation.
All of the proposed sites are due to be discussed by members of Rutland County Council’s cabinet at a meeting next week. If approved, they will be taken forward for the new local plan and undergo a further round of public consultation later this year.
The proposed sites are:
• Brooke Road, Oakham - 140 homes
• Stamford Road, Oakham - 94 homes
• Officers’ Mess, Edith Weston - 85 homes
• Belmesthorpe Lane, Ryhall - 11 homes
• Whitwell Road, Empingham - 28 homes
• Uppingham (locations to be determined by the Uppingham Neighbourhood Plan) - 315 homes
• Quarry Farm, Stamford North - 650 homes
A council report states that if all these sites are included in the final version of the local plan, together with sites which have already been granted planning permission and homes which have been built since April 2021, the county will have exceeded its minimum requirement of building 2,460 homes by 2041 by 328 properties.
The council is having to rewrite its local plan after the previous version was scrapped in 2021. It followed the council's decision to turn down a £29.4million Housing Infrastructure Fund grant for a major development at the St George’s Barracks site in Edith Weston which underpinned the previous plan.
Rewriting the plan is expected to cost £1.4million.
The council is due to discuss the redevelopment of the St George’s Barracks site at its cabinet meeting in September. The Army is due to leave the base in 2026.
