Environment and Planning

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Environmental update

The summer months are the pinnacle of success (or otherwise!) of efforts of the previous months to maintain or grow things. TABS takes a particular interest in the Manor Field Pond and Telford Way Green. Other parish groups work on other projects.

Manor Field Pond

In the twenty years that the Society has cared for this, which plants will flourish and which will not each year has never been the same. This year the most successful plant is the purple loosestrife which has really got a hold. Also, the three clumps of hemp agrimony have now become firmly established. The area attracts bees and butterflies such as the gatekeeper (also known as the hedge brown). A second attempt has been made to establish a buddleia (the butterfly bush) to encourage more.

On the downside, we can’t find any figwort. Perhaps it will reappear next year! There is a constant battle to remove the strands of reed which have strayed from the designated reed bed. Otherwise, the whole pond would return to be a solid reed bed again!

Sadly, with the pond now drying up in the summer months, the water plants can not be seen. I say that because they may not be actually dead because the pond is continuing to be soggy at the bottom and water plants and invertebrates stubbornly ‘hang on’ for when the pond fills up again. Water snails were seen on the vegetation for example.

Telford Way Green

The bushes continue to grow and become more established. It is planned to review and, if necessary, replace, any shrubs that did not survive.

Other public spaces

TABS continues to monitor the environmental care of all our other public places. It is with concern that with ever decreasing resources cutting back of undergrowth can happen only when crews have finished grass cutting, and tree work is really limited to emergencies. TABS is in dialogue with the Parish Council on how to improve the situation.

Efforts to care for what we have and to even enhance the parish never stop!

Judith Lord

1.8.25

Planning update

HDC Local Plan

The consultation period for the New Local Plan has ended and HDC is now processing the

comments. So, we await the Council’s approved draft that is scheduled to go to the

Government Inspector this Autumn and to a Public Enquiry next year.

In the meantime, the current Local Plan is still in force. However, this can be argued to be out of date. In addition, the Government have moved the goal posts by upping the housing quotas substantially – beyond what HDC has planned for. So, it is harder for HDC to refuse applications and, if they do, they could be approved on appeal.

A consequence of this planning vacuum is that developers are currently submitting

development plans.

Local Government Reorganisation 

The Government is looking at changes to the Councils to reduce their number and has invited the City, District and County Councils to work together to achieve this. For more information go to www.northcitysouth.co.uk.

Planning Applications

TABS monitors the local planning applications to HDC and responds to any that will have an impact on the parish.

Two things give rise to rumours:

• flyers have been distributed describing building. These are NOT planning applications,

             just the developer 

             sounding out               

             public opinion

• some applications to HDC are just ‘screening’ applications where the developer sends some details and asks HDC what other details are required for a full application.

As at 1 August, there are two applications of interest pending decision at HDC:

• a Lidl store off Zouche Way
• nine bungalows plus an overflow car park on Manor Field South (between Holmleigh

              Gardens and the           

              Recreation Area).

Further input from the applicants including clarification of some points has been requested in both cases.

Lastly, as can be seen, the 73-bed Care Home on the Uppingham Road (approved in 2023) is being built, due for opening in 2026. 

Mike Lord

1 August 2025