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

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 Local Plan

HDC is continuing to review the responses to the Consultation made earlier this year before submitting the Plan to the Government Inspector for approval, possibly in March 2026.

Re-structuring of Local Government (Unitary Authorities)

The Government will make the final decision on the various proposals put forward and this is anticipated in 2026. 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.

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. 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 on land adjacent to Manor Field

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

Lidl store on Bloor estate

This planning application is still pending a decision by HDC. There are issues with the design of the road junctions.

Bungalows on The Cuttings, Thurnby

Planning approval with very strict conditions, particularly with regard to 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.

Development by Coles Nurseries, Thurnby

The re-development of Coles site, which will include a café in the sales building, is due for completion in Spring 2026.

Housing on land east of Zouche Way, Bushby

Roebuck Land are the builders interested in this. They have sounded out public opinion, but there is no Planning Application.

Housing south of Uppingham Road, Bushby

Mulberry Land are the builders interested in this site but there is no Planning Application. A campaign against this potential development is being mounted and a public meeting was held on 6th November. To be kept up to date contact Melanie Wakley on melanie.wakley@btinternet.com.

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

The landowners 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.

Mike Lord 

22 November 2025