Land for sale in Leicester LE8, 4 Bedroom

A rare opportunity to acquire a building plot of 15.6 acres with full planning consent under Paragraph 55 of the National Policy Framework for an architect designed dwelling with a detached office, garage and barn with associated engineering works to create water meadows and a sustainable hydro energy system.
Planning ref: 16/00007/ful.

A further 20 acres may be available by
separate negotiation.

Waterleys Farmhouse

Entrance Hall | Living kitchen | Sitting room
Cloakroom | Utility room | Principal bedroom
with dressing room and en suite | 3 Further en
suite bedrooms

Garage and Office

Home office | Kitchen | WC | Garaging for 3 cars
Barn with stabling

The overall gross external area will be 627 m² with the main house comprising 446 m² over two floors and the outbuilding 181 m².

The Site

The site comprises three fields running along the floor of a small valley that descends northwards towards the River Sence, approximately 3km away. Within the site, the valley floor slopes gently, descending approximately 7m from south to north.

Historically, a stream meandered across the valley floor creating a series of water meadows. In the 1980s the stream was diverted to run in a channel along the east side of the valley floor and the fields were drained to make way for arable farmland. A public bridleway crosses the site from east to west, connecting the A5199 with Fleckney Road.

The location for the house is on the valley floor at the centre of the site which enables the house to exploit views along the valley towards higher ground to the south. The new house will sit at the heart of a restored and enhanced landscape introducing lakes to re-establish the historic water meadows on the valley floor. A new building, housing a barn and stables, will be located a short distance north of the house on the opposite side of the bridleway. A central element of the project is that the house will draw a substantial amount of its energy needs through a contemporary interpretation of a traditional water mill by harnessing the existing water flow, providing a clean renewable energy source for the dwelling.

Two lakes are to be introduced along the valley floor which will be fed by the stream. Water will cascade from one into the other via a reflective pond where a water wheel and turbine harness the power of the flowing water. Above ground, a new biodiverse water meadow environment is created, encouraging the return of wildlife and a variety of plant species.

During daylight hours, a south facing solar pv array integrated into roof of the barn would exploit the sunlight falling on the site and would be used to power a water pump, which would recycle the water from the lower lake back to the upper lake; thus optimising the performance of the water wheel and providing a means of storing solar energy. Surplus electricity from the pv array would be used to top up the power supply to the house and outbuildings.

Thus, a self-sufficient energy supply system is created while, at the same time, a unique natural environment is reinstated on the site.

Situation

Waterleys House is superbly located just to the south-east of Leicester to which it is easily accessible. The location offers a seamless connection to the nexus of midlands transport links which includes the mainline from to London St Pancras international, the M1, M6, M69 and A47 and A14 both of which lead east. Both East Midlands and Birmingham Airports are within easy reach.

There is a surfeit of excellent schools both within the state and private sector locally. These include preparatory schools at Spratton, Maidwell and Stoneygate, Leicester Grammar and public schools at Rugby, Uppingham and Oakham, to name but a few.

Directions

From Market Harborough take the B6047 north joining the A6 and going north to Kibworth Harcourt. On reaching the roundabout in Kibworth Harcourt, take the first left along the Wistow Road and follow this through to the village of Kilby. In Kilby, take a left along the Fleckney Road and follow this for 1.35km passing a turn for Kilby Grange Farms on your left. The site is accessed via a footpath with a five bar gate approximately 340m further on your right.