Fear village will be 'absorbed into urban landscape'

Jim Snee, spokesperson for Protect Diseworth, thinks the planned new town will be "a blot on the landscape"

A group of residents have raised fears their village will be "absorbed into an industrial and urban landscape", after plans for 4,250 new homes were submitted.

A new town called Isley Woodhouse would be built on farmland to the south-west of East Midlands Airport (EMA) as part of the plans, between Isley Walton, Diseworth and Tonge in Leicestershire.

Jim Snee, from the campaign group Protect Diseworth, said the development would "ruin" local infrastructure.

Jo Neville, national director of planning at Harworth Group, which is behind the plans with Caesarea Development Holdings, said the developers' "engagement with local stakeholders ensures that the development reflects community priorities".

The proposals for Isley Woodhouse also include a secondary school, two primary schools, shops, hotels, leisure centre and sports facilities.

An outline application submitted to North West Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC) states the development could bring about 10,000 new residents to the area, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The 781-acre (316-hectare) site between Isley Walton, Diseworth and Tonge has been earmarked for development

NWLDC has earmarked the 781-acre (316-hectare) site for development as part of its local plan, which sets out where the authority can build new homes to meet predicted population growth.

Mr Snee, 77, told the BBC he thinks the new town will be "a blot on the landscape" and bring thousands of additional vehicle movements a day "on roads that can't possibly accommodate it".

He said the village also faced a "second threat" to the east - a reference to a planned new logistics and manufacturing park which is part of the East Midlands Freeport.

"We are going to become totally absorbed into an industrial and urban landscape," Mr Snee added.

EMA submitted plans to develop land to the east of Diseworth last year as part of the freeport.

Managing director Steve Griffiths said the land was "a prime location for the sort of development we are proposing, which meets a need identified by the local planning authority".

"We have met and will continue to meet members of Diseworth Parish Council and community groups and have aimed to address their concerns in our proposals," he added.

Janet Moorhouse questioned why the large development was "all just dumped in one area"

Another Diseworth resident, Janet Moorhouse said she understood why the area had been chosen due to its proximity to the motorways, but questioned the development's size.

"I can understand all the road infrastructure that there is with motorways etc but to have it all just dumped in one area, it's not fair," the 72-year-old said.

Paul Stokes, 67, added: "People have got to go somewhere, I know that, but 4,000 is a hell of a lot, on farming land as well."

Ms Neville said: "We have been working with the council to comprehensively masterplan the proposals to provide supporting infrastructure including schools, medical centres and recreational facilities to meet local authority needs and take pressure off other areas.

"Our engagement with local stakeholders ensures that the development reflects community priorities – from preserving natural landscapes and heritage of North West Leicestershire to supporting local services and schools."

An East Midlands Freeport spokesperson said: "The proposed housing development at Isley Walton is not a Freeport project.

"However, we take local views seriously and remain committed to working with communities and developers on proposals close to our Freeport sites."