Richborough Estates were appointed by Leicestershire County Council to promote land it owns at Station Road, Ibstock. Ibstock is a large village of around 5,500 people and has a good range of local facilities in close proximity to Station Road.
The site which amounts to 6.63 hectares (16.36 acres) comprises 3 fields of pasture forming part of Valley Farm which is a County Council owned dairy farm. The dairy farm remained and Richborough Estates worked alongside the County Council and the tenant farmer to ensure that the development of the land fronting Station Road did not affect the farm’s operational needs.
A planning application was submitted in November 2013 for the development of 142 dwellings, comprising 114 houses for open market sale and 28 affordable homes. Access from Station Road is to be gained from a new roundabout which will also act to reduce traffic speeds along Station Road. The layout allowed for the retention of most of the existing hedgerows and allows for the formation of large areas of public open space both throughout the housing area and in an area of land adjacent to the existing recreation area. In total the amount of public open space provided is over 6 hectares (15 acres) which will represent a significant benefit to both the existing community and to the new residents. The proposal also allowed for the creation of a substantial area of woodland planting as a contribution to the National Forest within which the site is located.
The application went to Planning Committee on 11th March 2014 and was approved subject to a Section 106 Agreement. The application generated only 5 letters of objection which largely reflected the considerable efforts Richborough Estates had expended to consult with the local community and with the planning officers and statutory consultees prior to submitting the application.
Following a marketing exercise undertaken by Strutt and Parker on behalf of the County Council and Richborough Estates the site was sold to Kier Living in June 2016.
The below image was captured in February 2018.