PLANNING CONTEXT

The Council will consider planning applications in accordance with their Local Plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Local Plans are Council documents that set out the amount and distribution of housing and employment land over a specific period. The Council’s last Local Plan covers the period 2006-2026 following the adoption of the Core Strategy in December 2009.

Importantly, the Council is currently working on a new Local Plan, which will amount to a material consideration as it progresses and will detail how housing and employment needs will be met to 2041. The latest draft plan identifies a housing requirement 13,862 dwellings between 2020-41, however the latest published housing figures for the Borough identify a significantly higher housing need to be met.

Significantly, Hinckley is designated within the Local Plan as a sub-regional centre and is the principal settlement within the Borough and most sustainable location for growth. It performs well in respect of sustainability in respect of both education, employment and connectivity. The town benefits from a train station which offers regular connections to Leicester, Nuneaton and Birmingham which supports residents to meet their needs sustainably.

The sites are located alongside a recent submitted outline planning application (reference: 24/00264/OUT) for up to 415 dwellings, landscape, open space, drainage and associated infrastructure (access only), with a further application directly to the west recently allowed at appeal (Reference 33323113 & 22/00318/OUT) for up to 475 dwellings. These applications, alongside the emerging proposals, represent the Hinckley North allocation.