The final housing scheme at Barleythorpe is being recommended for approval, despite objections from highways, flooding and ecology experts. 

Permission was granted back in 2011 for the overall development of 1,000 homes to the northwest of Oakham's centre, known as the Oakham North Urban Extension. Next week Rutland councillors will make a decision on a reserved matters application for the Allison Homes housing scheme on the final parcel of land. 

The proposal is for 65 homes including 26 assisted living units on a patch of land just under two acres. The assisted living homes will be located on the east of the site and separated from the rest of the development by an existing line of trees. 

The majority of homes will be one bedroom, with a quarter of the total two bedrooms and another quarter three bedrooms. There will be three four-bedroom properties. Two thirds of the homes would be rental and a third for sale. 

The report says since the application was submitted there have been 'numerous revisions' to the housing type and layout.   

The design code said the area should be for "continuing care retirement community with a care home to the east" but the report goes on to say outline planning permission does not designate the land use as community care. 

It adds: "...the Oakham North development has deviated/evolved from the design code significantly over the years across a number of different applications and developments".  

It says further care facilities have been built in the immediate area including Aspen Manor, a care home, and Lonsdale Park, which has 43 retirement living apartments. 

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The developer says during discussions with the council's adult social care team, it has emerged that there's enough care home beds but a need for assisted units. 

The council's legal team has reviewed the revised proposals and says the changes to the original plans are within the scope of the original planning permission given in 2011. 

Rutland's planning team is recommending the housing scheme is approved, despite a number of concerns raised by highways, ecology and flooding officers. More than 50 objections have been made by residents across three rounds of consultation since the scheme was first submitted in 2023. 

The local highways authority has listed 19 concerns, including inadequate parking, and insufficient turning space for refuse trucks and has objected to the scheme and recommends refusal on various grounds.  

The local lead flood authority is also objecting to the scheme and says the road cannot be adopted because of a flooding risk. 

The Leicestershire County Council ecology officer also has an objection and has asked for more information and wants surveys to be done. There is also concern about a badger sett on site which may need to be closed and relocated. 

The planning officers say that the concerns of the objectors will be addressed and are recommending councillors vote to approve the scheme. 

The planning meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 18 at 7pm. 

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