The application has already received 146 objections online
14:24, 06 Apr 2026
Wintersdale Road residents delivering the letters to HDC’s head of development management, Adrian Eastwood(Image: Melanie Wakley)
Residents have taken matters into their own hands over growing concerns about a major 900-home development planned on their doorstep.
Concerned residents delivered more than 60 letters of objection to Harborough District Council (HDC) in person, alerting officials to their fears surrounding the 900-home development planned for land south of Uppingham Road in Bushby.
The application, by Mulberry Strategic Land Ltd, has already received 146 objections online, and a 39-signature “flooding petition” signed by residents of Wintersdale Road, St Swithin’s Road and Springway Close raised against the plans.
The petition calls on HDC to work with Leicestershire County Council and Leicester City Council as lead local authorities to prevent further flooding.
The outline application is seeking approval for the development in principle. Alongside the 900 homes, the proposals for the 64-hectare site include a primary school and a local centre.
Mulberry Strategic Land Ltd says the houses will be a combination of 540 market homes and 360 affordable homes. The plans state that the proposal will not increase flood risk elsewhere.
However, concerns about flooding led residents of Wintersdale Road in Leicester, who worry about the risk to their homes if the planning application is approved, to deliver their concerns in person to HDC’s head of development management, Adrian Eastwood.
Residents say the fields allocated for development often have standing water on them during heavy rainfall.
A spokesperson said: “The water drains into Bushby Brook, which in turn runs downhill to Wintersdale Road.
“For the last few years, residents on Wintersdale Road have suffered the consequences of the changing climate and heavy rainfall during winter storms. Their homes or garages have been flooded and the road itself floods so that residents get trapped in their houses and cannot get out.”
Melanie Wakley, from Thurnby and Bushby Parish Council said: “I spoke to one old gentleman who [when the floods hit in January 2025], had been paddling around in water nearly up to his knees whilst trying to care for his disabled wife.
Flooding affected homes and garages in the area on January 6, 2025
“Some residents also moved out of their homes for several months waiting for the water level to go down and their properties to be made habitable again.
“Building on those fields will only make the flooding worse.
“The letters are respectfully asking the District Council to consult the local lead flood authorities on the flooding issues, as residents fear their problems could become worse in future storms if action is not taken”.
The Environment Agency was previously consulted as part of Mulberry Strategic Land Ltd’s plans.
In its response, dated Wednesday, December 3, the Environment Agency said: “The development falls within flood zone 1 and therefore we have no fluvial flood risk concerns associated with the site.”
Mulberry Strategic Land notes in its application that if plans are approved next year, and reserved matters applications are submitted and approved by 2027, construction would be expected to start in mid to late 2027 and the first homes would be completed in early 2028.
The company is aiming for a completion date of 2035.