Environment and Planning

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Manor Field Pond

“What on earth is going on” you are most likely to think if you have visited Manor Field Pond this week. Well, the pond has had it’s annual clear out. I say ‘annual’ but sadly this wasn’t able to happen the last two autumns. This is because rain started to fill up the pond earlier than anticipated so it wasn’t possible for the digger to go onto the floor of the pond. This year’s conditions were perfect, but with three years’ growth to clear, a rather large heap of debris was created (which will be removed)!

Apart from blanket clearance of the floor, the other object was to define the reed bed and remove stray reeds everywhere else. Where there were substantial clumps, selective inroads were made into the sides, avoiding plants that we wanted to keep and for seeds to re-populate the cleared areas. Remaining stray reeds entwined with the plants will be carefully removed by hand.

We look forward now to see what plants come up and hopefully some aquatic life and water birds (which sadly have been absent recently) might take an interest and colonise.

All we need now is water! So, please do those rain dances!

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

10/10/25

  Planning update March 2026

There’s a lot going on at the moment due partly to the limbo between the old Local Plan and the new Local Plan.

Strategic Planning

HDC new Local Plan

HDC have adjusted the Plan in the light of the public consultation in 2025. It comes before an HDC Committee in March for approval to send it to the Government Planning Inspectorate who will examine it for compliance with National Policies.

Re-structuring of Local Government (Unitary Authorities)

The District Councils (including HDC) have proposed a North-South divide of the present County Council with Thurnby and Bushby being in the south half. For more information go to www.northcitysouth.co.uk. The County Council have proposed uniting Leicestershire and Rutland into a single Council. The City Council have proposed extending the City boundary to include surrounding parishes. The Government will now consider proposals and consult on their preferred options in 2026. This will presumably be after the May elections now.

Neighbourhood Plan

This bottom tier of planning documentation covers the aspirations of the Parish as agreed by all stakeholders and is binding. Thurnby and Bushby are producing one and a volunteer team are working on it. Anyone interested in helping should email Melanie Wakley on thurnbybushby-np@outlook.com 

Planning Applications and Decisions

Beware of rumours arising from flyers describing building. These are NOT planning applications, just the developer sounding out public opinion.

Housing south of Uppingham Road, Bushby (HDC planning ref 25/01587/OUT)

A Planning Application has been submitted by Mulberry Land to build 900 houses on land south of the Uppingham Road in Bushby. This would increase the size of Thurnby & Bushby by 50%. This is open for comments to be made to HDC now. Traffic from this proposed development would affect everyone in the Parish. A local campaign against this development is underway. To be kept up to date contact Melanie Wakley on melanie.wakley@btinternet.com.

TABS has written to object for many reasons.

The application is pending a decision. County Council Highways Department have asked the applicant to consider some design modifications for the proposed 4 arm roundabout connecting the proposed development and the A47. County Council Ecology have requested more information on species present and the NHS have said that a developer contribution will be required (via a S106 agreement) to cover the extra demand on local health care.

Housing on land east of Zouche Way, Bushby (HDC planning ref 25/01615/OUT)

A Planning Application has been submitted by Roebuck Land to build 130 houses on land east of Zouche Way, Bushby, surrounding the proposed Lidl site and also in the next field to the North. This is open for comments to be made to HDC now. TABS has written to object for many reasons. 

The application is pending a decision. County Council Highways Department have asked for design modifications to the road junction with the A47. County Council Ecology have requested more information on protected species and the mandatory biodiversity net gain.

Lidl store east of Zouche Way

On 12 February the HDC Planning Committee approved this application by nine votes to two. The suggestions that the height should be reduced and a better design were not accepted. To protect residential amenity, there are conditions restricting opening and delivery hours, and on lighting. Signs and advertisements are not included in the permission and will require separate consent.

Land between Leybury Way and Covert Lane, Scraptoft (known as Scraptoft East)

The land owners Jelsons and Davidsons are interested in building 950 dwellings there, but there is no Planning Application. A residents’ group has formed in Scraptoft to oppose this proposal.

Housing on land adjacent to Manor Field

The planning application for 9 bungalows and an overflow car park for Cafe55 was refused for its harm to heritage interests and loss of open space. The site is in the Thurnby and Bushby Conservation Area.

Bungalows on The Cuttings, Thurnby

Planning approval with very strict conditions, particularly with regard to ground contamination issues, has been granted for four bungalows to continue the line of houses up to the point where the former railway cutting infill ends. Work can’t commence until HDC are happy that these conditions have been dealt with satisfactorily.

The Cinnamon Care Home on Uppingham Road, Thurnby

Work continues on this 73-bed care home. Opening is currently said to be Christmas 2026.

Development by Coles Nurseries, Thurnby

The re-development of Coles site, which will include a café in the sales building, is in progress.

Mike Lord, 1 March 2026