Campaign to Protect Rural England Rutland launches its Rutland 2036 vision for development in the county at meeting at Oakham's Victoria Hall
A campaign has been launched in response to a proposed large-scale development in Rutland.
Concerned residents filled Victoria Hall in Oakham on Wednesday evening for the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) Rutland’s alternative vision for development.
The main aims of its ‘Rutland 2036’ campaign are to specify what the ‘real’ housing needs are and to promote a community-led approach to development.
Last month Rutland county councillors approved the Rutland Local Plan, which identifies sites for new homes and industry. It includes a 2,215-home development at the former St George’s Barracks, North Luffenham.
The Local Plan is now in the hands of an independent planning inspector, who will check its soundness.
Chairman of the CPRE Rutland, Malcolm Touchin, said: “We are the smallest county, some may say the most rural, but we have some things facing us which will threaten that.
“Anywhere in Rutland is only a few miles from another county and other developments will have a disproportionate impact on us.”
Speaking about St George’s Barracks, he said while recognising the site will have to be developed, the current plan proposed too many homes for its size.
“It’s in the wrong place and, more importantly, a missed opportunity. We think 500 homes is enough and should be a new village, in keeping with the villages we already have in Rutland.”
Mr Touchin suggested the site is developed in other ways, such as a renewable energy facility or an eco village.
A film was shown called ‘County Under Threat’ giving some people’s views of development in Rutland.
Wing resident Susannah Fish, a former chief constable of Nottinghamshire Police, gave an impassioned speech saying she wanted to ‘enhance’ but also ‘protect’ Rutland and called on people to write to the planning inspector in opposition to the Local Plan.
She asked if it was acceptable for the Ministry of Defence to put pressure on Rutland County Council to allocate the barracks site for 2,215 new homes to maximise profits for their purse and the Treasury.
She also asked if it was acceptable “that Rutland County Council has succumbed to this pressure” and “created an entirely new Local Plan designed solely to accommodate St George’s Barracks?”.
Mrs Fish added: “It’s gross over-development to the detriment of everyone who lives here and those who come to enjoy our amazing county.”
She received a standing ovation.