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Packington Nook Residents’ Association

March 2025 - Consultation on additional housing sites for the Local Plan

The District Council has published another consultation on additional sites for the Local Plan, having been unable to obtain clear availability of sites that were previously going to be released following the cancellation of HS2 north. The Packington Nook site is being proposed as a "reserve" site to deliver over 600 houses during the course of the local plan, but with the intention that the full 1100 houses of the original Hallam Land application becoming available.

Clearly this is against the backdrop of the planning permission being refused on appeal after the planning inquiry in 2010 and all the other major sites originally earmarked for development (including the major extension at Moneyhill) either complete or underway.

This is no longer just an issue for Packington Nook residents, but one to which the whole town must response in the strongest terms if the character of Ashby is not to be lost for ever in the Council's quest to "deliver the numbers". We've asked the Council to set up a consultation event in Ashby to provide the community with information (as they did last year with other towns in the district).

We will be drafting evidence for residents to make their own submissions to the consultation - because this is not a foregone conclusion and the earlier we act, the less need we will then have to address planning applications and another inquiry. Responses need to be in by Friday 2 May 2025.

Meanwhile you can see the Council's Local Plan page here:

Additional sites consultation

and the consultation document here:

Site Allocations Consultation document

We're also updating our mailing lists and appealing for supporters to deliver leaflets in the town. If you're not a registered supporter, please visit the contact page and upload your details - we will keep you in touch with progress.

The appeal is dismissed - 29 October 2014

The Planning Inspector has now published his report and dismissed the appeal by Hallam Land for 70 houses at Lower Packington Road. He has agreed with our arguments that the land is countryside, distant from the town centre and that the need to deliver housing numbers does not justify this site being developed.

We're pleased to report that Hallam's application for Judicial Review of the Lower Packington Road appeal decision has been abandoned.

Thank you everyone for your hard work and support. The relevant documents are here:

Inspector's Report and Decision

Inspector's Decision on Costs

Our concerns on HS2 compensation - 19 April 2013

Packington Nook Residents’ Association has today submitted its response to the consultation on the HS2 Exceptional Hardship Scheme, which seeks public views on the compensation offered to people directly affected by the announcement of the new high speed railway between Birmingham and Leeds... (more)

Local people must join together to object to the route of HS2 - 6 March 2013

Packington Nook Residents’ Association has today written to both North West Leicestershire District Council and Leicestershire County Council to seek a common position on the route of the proposed High Speed 2 rail line between Birmingham and Leeds. (more)

Further information can be found at our HS2 page.

We are currently forming our response to the Government's consultation exercise. Whilst it will be at least 20 years away, construction of the line will have a major effect on people in the local area.

Planning permission refused and appeal dismissed!! – 17 March 2010

As released to the press today…

The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, John Denham, has announced that he has refused planning permission for the building of over 1000 houses at the Packington Nook site, land south of Ashby de la Zouch.

The decision, following a public inquiry in the town last October, identified and agreed with all of the issues raised by Packington Nook Residents’ Association (PNRA). Following the Inquiry, the report of the Planning Inspector, Graham Cundale, recommended refusal and stated that if development went ahead there would be:

significant harm to the landscape and the character of the town
shortcomings in the quality of the residential environment on parts of the site owing to noise from the A42
an undue risk of harm to road safety – taking on board PNRA concerns about the increased traffic in the town and the likely “rat-runs” in nearby residential streets, such as Cambrian Way and Windsor Road
shortcomings in the sustainability of the site location – adding that the location would be very attractive to commuters who would drive to the West Midlands and other urban areas
prejudice to the outcome of North West Leicestershire District Council’s Core Strategy process – which is still consulting on where the best location for housing in the district should be

However, it is the risk to the habitat in the River Mease – a European designated Special Area of Conservation, which has caused the most concern and been pivotal in the decision to refuse permission. The Inspector did not accept Hallam’s proposals to clean sewage from the site with new equipment at Packington Sewage Works and doubted if they could be delivered in time. The current high levels of phosphates in the River Mease are a threat to endangered species including native White-Clawed Crayfish and Otters. Following objections by the Environment Agency and Natural England, development in the Ashby and Measham area is on hold for the foreseeable future.

“We are absolutely delighted with this news and extremely satisfied that the Inspector and Secretary of State has both heard and taken on-board our views” commented Nigel Garnham, Chairman of Packington Nook Residents’ Association. “At the inquiry we showed how over 98% of local residents surveyed were opposed to development at the Packington Nook site and had clearly stated concerns on ecology, traffic and impact on our market town.”

He continued “We hope this decision will send a clear message to developers that acquiring some land does not provide immediate rights to build on it. The concerns of local people matter and PNRA has used that strength of opinion to take part in this process, which has now come to a satisfactory conclusion.”

We would like to thank everyone who had supported the PNRA campaign and to the officers of North West Leicestershire Council, the Environment Agency, the Highways Agency, Leicestershire County Council and Natural England, with whom PNRA worked closely at the Inquiry.

You can see the full text of the inquiry report and the Secretary of State’s letter at our links page.

About Packington Nook Residents' Association

PNRA was formed in summer 2008 in response to proposals by a major developer, Hallam Land Management, to build over 1000 houses on open countryside south of Ashby de la Zouch.

Hallam Land subsequently submitted two planning applications to North West Leicestershire District Council, for over 1000 homes - covering the entire site, and 115 homes as a means of providing phased development. Both were refused by the local authority. As the 1000+ homes application was not refused within the period of determination set by planning rules, Hallam appealed to the Planning Inspectorate and a public inquiry took place in October 2009.

Following that inquiry, the Secretary of State for Communities and local government dismissed the appeal and refused planning permission at the site.

However, Hallam Land Management still owns, or has interests, in land at this site. We are still active to ensure that the views of our supporters are presented in the wider debate about develop in the area.

We have over 300 registered supporters, conducted two major canvasses of local views and raised many thousands of pounds to pay for planning and legal support. We're maintaining this website for our own publicity, as well as a resource for any other residents' group who wishes to draw from our experiences here in Ashby de la Zouch.

June 2012