Tilton Holiday Village Plans Draw Over 320 Objections

Plans for a new holiday lodge village on a former chicken farm near Tilton on the Hill in Leicestershire have drawn more than 320 objections. The BBC, drawing on the Local Democracy Reporting Service, reported the scale of opposition on 31 October 2026, with further detail in the Harborough Mail on 2 November 2026.

The application, if approved by Harborough District Council, would see up to 45 holiday lodges built at Langborrow Farm on Launde Road, about one and a half miles east of Tilton on the Hill. For readers who already own a static caravan or lodge elsewhere, contested new lodge parks are a reminder that planning, traffic and landscape issues sit behind many of the sites on the market.

What the plans include

As the BBC reports, the proposals also include a gatehouse, a bike rental and shop building, a cafe or restaurant, indoor and outdoor leisure facilities, and a new access from and onto Oakham Road.

Applicant Brayden Cooper described the scheme as "not a high-intensity events venue but a low-density eco-resort designed to connect with nature". In material covered by the Harborough Mail and BBC, he said the building layout is intended to minimise noise breakout, with measures such as limited outdoor activity hours and no amplified music, and that the external lighting strategy "balances health and safety requirements with the need to protect dark skies and limit light spill".

Both outlets note that several developments on the site have been put forward by Cooper over the years, including schemes for 90 holiday lodges, 10 homes and 10 commercial units, as well as the current 45-lodge plans.

Why the site is sensitive

The area sits beside Tilton Railway Cutting, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). According to Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust, as reported by the BBC and Harborough Mail, this is where Sir David Attenborough first discovered his love for natural history. The wider area also featured in his 2020 documentary A Life on Our Planet.

Objectors have raised traffic on rural lanes, light pollution, wildlife disturbance and pressure on the SSSI. One resident writing on the council portal, quoted by both outlets, said existing services cannot support a development of this scale, that Oakham and Launde Road are unsuitable for the extra traffic, and that Tilton Cutting would be at greater risk of vandalism from increased tourism.

Residents call it a "monstrosity"

The Harborough Mail reports that residents have labelled the plans a "monstrosity". Kay Highfield, 68, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service she planned to speak against the development at Harborough District Council's planning committee. She compared it to "Center Parcs on our doorstep", raised concerns about ancillary building sizes and lighting, and said the rural tranquillity that drew people to live there would be lost, with more traffic and safety risks for cyclists using narrow lanes.

Leicestershire County Council, acting as Local Highways Authority, said impacts on highways safety "would not be unacceptable" and that impacts on the road network "would not be severe" either, according to both the BBC and Harborough Mail.

No decision date yet

A Harborough District Council spokesperson told the Harborough Mail the application is being assessed and is expected to go to the Planning Committee as soon as possible, but that the council cannot yet confirm the date. The BBC likewise reported that the district council could not confirm when the application would be considered.

What it means for lodge owners

New lodge parks can expand choice for holidaymakers and for people looking to buy, but they also show how tightly planning, highways and nature designations can constrain growth. For owners already on established parks, stories like this are less about one Leicestershire field and more about how carefully councils weigh tourism investment against rural amenity.

If you own a holiday lodge or static caravan in the East Midlands and your circumstances have changed, see our locations coverage for how we buy across the UK.

Thinking of selling?

If you own a static caravan or lodge and are thinking of selling, Static Caravan Buyer offers a free, no-obligation valuation. We charge no commission when we buy, and we can help with the park paperwork. Payment is made on collection day before the caravan is loaded.

Call 0800 644 5000 or visit Static Caravan Buyer. We aim to respond to enquiries as quickly as we can.

Sources: BBC / Local Democracy Reporting Service, Tess Rushin, 31 October 2026; Harborough Mail, Tess Rushin, 2 November 2026.