The wall abuts the metalled surface of the driveway which serves a number of properties and agricultural land. The narrow width and long length of the driveway and the lack of passing bays and clear margins on the wall side of the driveway carriageway are likely to result in passing difficulties for users of the driveway, including pedestrians, cyclists and horse-riders, and in vehicles having to reverse along the driveway onto a section of Leicester Road where vehicle speeds are high and forward visibility limited. The hazardous conditions on the driveway are exacerbated by the lack of visibility splays either side of the two gated accesses to Bybrook Hall resulting in conflict between the driveway users and vehicles leaving Bybrook Hall. For these reasons, the local planning authority considers that the proposal would result in severe harm to highway safety which would be contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework, Policy H/16 of the adopted Borough of Charnwood Local Plan and Policy CS2 of the emerging Charnwood Local Plan Core Strategy.

The wall, by reason of its size, siting, design and materials, constitutes an incongruous and unwarranted intrusion into the countryside which results in harm to the character and appearance of the rural landscape of this part of the Charnwood Forest. As such, the proposal is contrary to the principles set out in the National Planning Policy Framework, saved Policies EV/1, CT/1 and CT/7 of the adopted Borough of Charnwood Local Plan and Policies CS2 and CS11 of the emerging Charnwood Local Plan Core Strategy.