Developers To Launch Appeal After Harborough Firms’ Expansion Plans Blocked

Developers are to launch an appeal after councillors blocked a plan to enable two Market Harborough businesses to expand.

Planning permission to create a new out-of-town base for Harborough Hire was refused at a meeting last night.

Harborough Hire & Travis Perkins at Three Manor Retail Park

The development off Leicester Road would have allowed the company to re-locate from Three Manors Retail Park, in-turn allowing neighbour Travis Perkins to extend its operations by moving onto their site.

The builders merchants want to create a regional centre in Market Harborough and Harborough Hire also wants to expand.

The plan was refused over concerns about traffic safety and the visual impact it would have from the near-by canal area.

A document presented to councillors by Leicestershire Highways said: “This proposal, if permitted, would lead to an intensification of vehicular movements turning onto and off the B6047 Leicester Road, which is a busy high-speed road, where the turning manoeuvres could be an additional source of danger to road users, which is not in the interests of highway safety.”

The developers have told Hfm they will be lodging an appeal against the District Council, meaning a government planning inspector will review the decision.

A Harborough District Council District Council spokesperson said: “The applicant has a right of appeal to exercise which applies to most planning decisions.

“The appeal will be decided by the independent Planning Inspectorate and Harborough District Council will participate as needed.”