Current national and local planning policy establishes a presumption in favour of sustainable development which performs a social, economic and environmental role. The site is situated in the open countryside and outside of any established limits to development. Development in these areas should only be permitted in limited circumstances, typically those which relate to an agricultural need. It is the opinion of the local planning authority that the cumulative detrimental impacts of the development are considered to significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits secured by the additional supply of housing in the Borough. The development is considered to be unsustainable and the cumulative detrimental impacts of the proposal are significant and comprise the following: a. Loss of a Greenfield site outside the urban area and limits to development b. Lack of Affordable Housing Provision c. Impact on Ecology d. Inappropriate Design and Layout e. Loss of Residential Amenity The proposal is therefore contrary to the aims of adopted policies CS1, CS2 and CS11 of the Charnwood Local Plan 2011-2028 Core Strategy, saved policies ST/2, EV/1, CT/1 and CT/2 of the Borough of Charnwood Local Plan (2004), paragraphs 6, 7, 9, 14, 17, 34, 55, 108, 118 and 123 of the National Planning Policy Framework and the adopted Leading in Design Supplementary Planning Document.

The layout of the proposed development has not included satisfactory measures to prevent harm taking place to the Brown long-eared bats and Pipistrelle bats which are known to be present within the site and which are protected under the Habitats Regulations and the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). The proposal is therefore contrary to Part IV of Circular 06/2005 and Policy CS13: Biodiversity and Geodiversity of the Charnwood Core Strategy.

The site occupies a sensitive position in the open countryside. It is the opinion of the local planning authority that the layout and design of the proposed development would not result in a satisfactory form of development. In particular, the scheme would not meet the principle that new housing should create places and spaces with the needs of people in mind, which are attractive, have their own distinctive identity but respect and enhance local character. The provision of twelve large detached dwellings occupying a uniformed layout and, with the highway through the site providing a dominant feature, would lead to an incongruous built form of suburban appearance which would be out of scale and character with the surrounding open countryside and thereby detrimental to visual amenity. In these regards, the proposal would be contrary to adopted policies CS1, CS2 and CS11 of the Charnwood Local Plan 2011-2028 Core Strategy, saved policies EV/1 and CT/2 of the Borough of Charnwood Local Plan (2004), paragraphs 56-57 of the National Planning Policy Framework and the provisions of the adopted Leading in Design Supplementary Planning Document.

The local planning authority considers that, the siting of plots 4 and 5, would have an unreasonably over-dominant impact on the outlook from No.79 Loughborough Road. The provision of a turning head close to the boundary with No.79 Loughborough Road would also cause an unreasonable degree of noise and disturbance to this property. Furthermore, the location of plot 5 in close proximity to the northern boundary of the site and with only a very small rear garden area would fail to provide the occupiers of the plot with an adequate level of private amenity space. In these regards, the development would result in severe harm to residential amenity and is, therefore, contrary to the provisions of adopted policy CS2 of the adopted Charnwood Local Plan 2011-2028 Core Strategy, saved policy EV/1 of the Borough of Charnwood Local Plan (2004), the Council's adopted Leading in Design Supplementary Planning Document and the Backland and Tandem Development Supplementary Planning guidance.

The proposed development would fail to provide for the strategic housing needs of the Council. Policy CS3 of the Charnwood Local Plan 2011-2028 Core Strategy requires new developments in Hathern to provide at least 40% of total housing provision as affordable homes. The current proposal fails to provide any affordable homes and would therefore result in a failure to secure a strong cohesive and balanced community.