OAKHAM CASTLE TO HOST PUBLIC HEARING OVER CONTROVERSIAL 110-HOME BARLEYTHORPE DEVELOPMENT
The historic Great Hall of Oakham Castle is set to become the backdrop for a pivotal planning battle this May, as an appeal lodged by Bowbridge Land Ltd goes before a government inspector.
The appeal follows the developer's outline planning application for up to 110 dwellings and associated infrastructure on land situated to the west of Main Road in Barleythorpe. While the proposal is in "outline" form meaning specific details like design and layout are reserved for later the fundamental question of whether the site should be developed at all now rests in the hands of the Planning Inspectorate.
The appeal will be conducted via an Informal Hearing, a process designed to allow a structured discussion led by the Inspector, rather than the more legalistic and adversarial atmosphere of a Public Inquiry.
Inspector: A. McCloneDate: Tuesday, 19 May 2026
Time: 10:00 am
Venue: Oakham Castle, Market Place, Oakham
The hearing is scheduled to last one day and will be held as an in-person event. Rutland County Council recently issued a corrected notice for the event after an administrative error in a previous email left residents without the specific date and time of the proceedings.
Members of the public are invited to attend the hearing to observe the arguments. Crucially, those who wish to voice their opinions on the 110-home scheme may be allowed to do so at the Inspector’s discretion.
Residents wishing to speak are advised to attend the opening of the event at 10:00 am to signal their intent to the Inspector. To assist with logistics, the Council has requested that anyone planning to attend email planningappeals@rutland.gov.uk with their name, contact details, and their interest in the case (e.g., local neighbour or interested party).
The Council has confirmed that Oakham Castle is equipped with facilities for people with disabilities. Residents requiring specific information regarding access or the venue are encouraged to contact Planning Support at 01572 722577 (Option 3).
For those wishing to review the case files ahead of the hearing, all appeal documents including the original plans and the Council’s reasons for the initial decision are available on the Rutland County Council planning portal.
By entering reference 2025/0024/APPEAL into the
The Inspector’s final decision, which will determine whether the fields to the west of Main Road are transformed into a major housing estate, will be published online following the conclusion of the hearing.
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