Housebuilder ordered to stop work at site set for 80 new homes

A developer has been ordered to stop preparatory work at a site set for more than 80 homes after residents pointed out final planning permission was not in place. The development off of Clickers Way in Earl Shilton , was given the go ahead by Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council’s (HBBC) plans committee earlier this year. However, the 81-home scheme's planning permission cannot be officially awarded until a legal agreement – known as a S106 – is reached between the developer and the council over financial contributions towards facilities and services.

Heavy machinery has recently been spotted on the land, with signs that earth has been moved. A resident told LeicestershireLive : “The site remains unapproved due to issues with the S106, but the developer has started!". He said HBBC had told residents some "enabling" work was allowed at this stage, but added: "How can you enable a development without its approval?” READ MORE: Leicestershire town set to swell by a tenth amid plans for third new housing estate The council confirmed enabling work is allowed to take place before the legal agreement is agreed, including clearance of vegetation, but it said earthworks carried out by Persimmon have gone “above and beyond”.



It has now issued a stop notice to the developer, preventing it from carrying out further development for almost two months. Persimmon acknowledged residents had expressed concerns about “the extent of the work”, and confirmed it had stopped work at the site following HBBC’s order. It said the works had been carried out "in good faith" and that discussions about the legal agreement were progressing, with work anticipated to start officially in early 2025 as a result.

At a plans committee meeting in the summer, councillors dubbed the scheme "half-baked" , and took issue with a temporary road to the site that will be put in place until a permanent access is provided as part of the forthcoming 1,500 home Earl Shilton Sustainable Urban Extension (SUE). But members later voted unanimously to approve the development at a plans committee in August after seeing detailed designs of the proposed temporary access and receiving reassurances the majority of hedgerows on site would remain. A spokesperson for HBBC said work on the legal agreement between it and Permission was "progressing well", but that it had to issue the stop notice as the earthworks "go above and beyond enabling works".

The order is in place for 56 days from Friday, November 1. HBBC added: "The site is allocated for development as part of the wider Earl Shilton Sustainable Urban Extension (SUE) and has been allocated as such for nearly 20 years. The council will continue to liaise with ward members as the S106 progresses to completion.

" A Persimmon Homes spokesperson said the works had been "initiated in good faith" but had been "demobilised" following the concerns raised. They added: "Work is progressing on the s106 which will enable the development to formally commence in the New Year.” We are now bringing you the latest updates on Whatsapp first.