Concerns over 'new town' plans raised at meeting

Simon Galton from Harborough District Council has explained the authority's position as it develops its latest Local Plan

Almost 200 people were able to air their views amid growing concerns over plans for thousands of homes in Leicestershire.

An earlier plan for 10,000 homes around Stretton Hall has now been replaced with a smaller proposal for up to 4,000 homes, Harborough District Council planning lead Simon Galton told a public meeting on Friday.

The meeting was called by Conservative Harborough, Oadby and Wigston MP Neil O'Brien and Conservative Stamford and Rutland MP Alicia Kearns after the government listed the area as a site to "accelerate" for development in August.

O'Brien told the meeting at St Luke's Church, Thurnby, he understood the pressure the council was under to complete a new Local Plan before the government introduced bigger housing targets.

But he added he was worried about how much the public knew about the new planning document, which includes all housing development across the district up to 2041.

"We're trying to close that information gap and let people know what's going on and what is being proposed here, because it's really big," he told the BBC.

In a recent statement, Harborough District Council leader Phil Knowles said: "It’s important to ensure the community have the facts.

"We are 100% committed to sharing information as early as possible but we have to caveat that by ensuring we are complying with the necessary rules and regulations."

The next consultation on Harborough's Local Plan will be held in the new year.