Harborough Holiday Village Plans Receive More Than 300 Objections

A plan to build a holiday village on a farm in Leicestershire, England, has received more than 300 objections from local people. The application would place up to 45 holiday lodges on Langborrow Farm, about one and a half miles east of a village called Tilton on the Hill. Residents say the development would damage the quiet, rural feel of the area and create dangerous traffic on narrow country roads.

The applicant, Brayden Cooper, describes the project as a low-density eco-resort designed to help visitors connect with nature. His plans also include a gatehouse, a bike rental shop, a café and restaurant, and both indoor and outdoor leisure areas. A new road entrance would be created from Oakham Road to reach the site.

The farm sits next to the Tilton Railway Cutting, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, or SSSI. This means the area is legally protected because of its rare plants, animals, or geological features. According to the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust, this is also the place where famous naturalist Sir David Attenborough first developed his love of natural history. The wider area even appeared in Attenborough's 2020 documentary film, A Life on Our Planet.

Local resident Kay Highfield, who is 68 years old, said she plans to speak against the development at an upcoming council meeting. She compared the resort to Center Parcs, a well-known chain of large holiday parks, saying it would feel like one right on her doorstep. 'The reason why we live here is because it's totally rural, its tranquil,' she said, adding that all of that peace would be lost if the plans move forward.

Highfield also raised concerns about road safety for cyclists who might rent bikes at the resort. She pointed out that guests would ride out onto narrow rural roads that are already considered dangerous. She worries the application does not properly address the safety risks this would create for both visitors and people who already use those roads.

One resident wrote on the council's planning portal that local roads cannot handle the extra traffic from a development this large. The same person noted there are no bus services or cycle lanes in the area, and that slow-moving farm vehicles already share those roads. They also warned that the protected SSSI nature reserve at Tilton Cutting could face more vandalism if more tourists visit the area.

Cooper has put forward several different plans for the site over the years, including earlier proposals for 90 holiday lodges, 10 homes, and 10 commercial units. In this latest application, he says the building layout is designed to reduce noise, and that outdoor activities would have limited hours with no amplified music allowed. He also says the lighting plan is designed to protect dark skies and avoid disturbing local wildlife.

Leicestershire County Council reviewed the traffic concerns and said the impact on road safety and the wider road network would not be severe. However, 320 objections have been logged on the district council's planning portal, showing how strongly many residents feel about the proposal. A spokesperson for Harborough District Council said it could not yet confirm when the planning committee would meet to make a final decision.