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Back in 2013 we were first approached by Barratt North Midlands to assist them with the site they were buying from Leicester City Council at the former Blackbird Road playing fields. We produced a Transport Assessment that examined the full site, and its redevelopment for 434 dwellings. A subsequent outline consent for a Phase 1 of 314 dwellings was granted in 2017 and is now largely built out. Phase 2 has had a tough ride, but the latest application for 76 dwellings gained a resolution to grant consent at the development control committee meeting on Wednesday night. It brings to a close our input on this much needed city centre housing. CGI by Barratt Redrow.

Charnwood Borough Council consider two sports applications at their Plans Committee meeting on 19 March. Both were granted consent, ann both were supported by our Water Management and Transport Planning services. The first, a new cricket ground for Rothley Park Cricket Club, was particularly tricky because of concerns about flood risk downstream of the site in Mountsorrel. Additional flood risk work on top of the usual flood risk assessment and drainage strategy was required to address drainage authority and local residents concerns. We were able to demonstrate that the scheme would provide a minor betterment to the downstream flood risk via the on-site watercourse diversion and sustainable drainage measures, and this fact was recognised in councillor comments at the committee meeting. Layout by HSSP.

The second consent was for a new multi-activity sports ground at Mountsorrel. Working with the Parish Council, to deliver a scheme paid for by S106 monies from nearby new housing, the proposals deliver various community facilities. The Transport Statement used a first principles assessment to understand the travel and parking demands. Layout by Node.

Another unanimous approval, this time by Lichfield District Council, to an outline application for 230 houses on a strategic site between Fradley and the A38. On behalf of Bloor Homes, our Transport Assessment successfully addressed off-site capacity concerns raised by Staffordshire County Council and National Highways.

Blaby District Council have voted unanimously to approve David Wilson Homes’ full planning application for 59 new homes at Whet stone. It follows lengthy discussions with Leicestershire County Council about the acceptability of Wright Close to be extended to serve further houses.

Just to show the news isn’t always about planning successes, we are pleased to report that this week our colleague Riley has developed a spreadsheet to calculate pipe velocities using the Cole-Brook White equation. It gives a clear, printable output that can be included directly in our reports, to demonstrate flow capacities for isolated pipes and culverts, where an Infodrainage model is not warranted.

Bellway’s East Midlands division and Central Strategic Land team have successfully gained outline planning consent for 209 houses across two sites in Charnwood, south of Barkby Lane and north of Barkby Thorpe Lane. The applications were supported by our Flood Risk Assessment and drainage strategy. Our Transport Assessment examined the off-site traffic impacts in this congested location, and included some complex technical analysis of the mini-roundabouts on Melton Road and a network LinSig model of the A607 Thurmaston Roundabout and Asda roundabout on Barkby Thorpe Lane.

Great news, that Shropshire planning committee resolved to grant planning consent to the Tasley Garden Village scheme in Bridgnorth. The proposals include 1,500 homes, 14.6ha of employment, a primary school, local centre, sports pitches, and country park. On behalf of Bloor Homes and Taylor Wimpey, all our services were involved. Our Water Management team produced a Flood Risk Assessment and drainage strategy, and ES chapter to successfully address the concerns of the LLFA. Our Transport Planning team produced an ES chapter and Transport Assessment that resolved the transport issues, supported by our Infrastructure Design team who undertook additional 3D detailed design work to demonstrate that the highway designs were deliverable. A great all round effort. Masterplan by Pegasus.

Solihull Council last week granted unanimous approval to the Kler Group’s outline planning application for 151 houses on Gentleshaw Lane in Solihull. Our Transport Assessment persuaded National Highways that mitigation measures were not necessary at M42 J5. Particularly tricky was the flood risk assessment and drainage strategy work, and we successfully persuaded the Lead Local Flood Authority that the uncertainty regarding the route and condition of the sites’ outfall watercourse that is culverted beneath the A41 Solihull Bypass could be conditioned and discharged later.

Our Infrastructure Design team have successfully gained technical approval for a lengthy scheme of footway widening works to introduce a shared footway/cycleway along Kettering Road in Market Harborough. The works connect Davidsons’ emerging Little Bowden development to the town centre. As ever, an apparently simple scheme was complicated by the details, such as the levels, driveway crossing, and utilities. With assistance from Leicestershire County Council’s approvals team, we got there.

A good start to the new year, as we hear that on 19 January 2026 Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council granted outline consent to the Lakeside development in Market Bosworth. We were grateful to be appointed last year to assist Golby + Luck, agents to the applicant, to support the planning application seeking consent for 38 luxury lodges, a wedding venue, and exercise pods. The challenging part of our transport planning work was determining the traffic and parking demands created by those uses. Golby + Luck masterplan shown below.