Plan submitted for new town near airport

A huge swathe of farmland between Isley Walton, Diseworth and Tonge could become a brand new town

Plans to build a new town near East Midlands Airport have been submitted.

The long-mooted community, called Isley Woodhouse, could see 4,250-homes, a secondary and two primary schools, shops, hotels, leisure centre and sports facilities built on farmland to the south west of the airport.

In planning documents, developers Harworth Group and Caesarea Development Holdings said it could ultimately bring about 10,000 new residents to the area, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

It would make the new town the third biggest population centre in the district, behind Coalville and Ashby-de-la-Zouch, if approved.

The plans identify land between Isley Walton, Diseworth and Tonge.

The council has earmarked 316 hectares, outlined in red, for the development

The application to North West Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC) is for outline planning permission, with a full application to follow if granted.

Documents said there would be a "variety" of types and heights of houses, and suggested a mix of detached, semi-detached and terraced houses, as well as apartments.

The developers added they believed the new homes would be "in high demand", including by those employed at nearby East Midlands Airport and the Segro East Midlands Gateway logistic park in Castle Donington.

Some 30% of the properties would be classed as "affordable".

Under the plans, four new access points would be created into the development off the A453, which would be rerouted around the west of the site.

NWLDC has earmarked the 781-acre (316-hectare) site for development as part of its local plan.

This sets out where the authority can find about 700 new homes a year, up to 2040, to meet predicted population growth.

A public consultation is running until Tuesday 12 August with NWLDC setting a target decision date for Friday, 10 October.