New 4,500-home town could be built near East Midlands Airport

North West Leicestershire District Council is allocating land for thousands of new homes

A new town with 4,500 homes could be built near East Midlands Airport.

North West Leicestershire District Council has earmarked 781 acres (316 hectares) of farmland to the south west of the airport for the new settlement.

The authority said it needed to find land for nearly 700 homes each year, up to 2040, to meet predicted population growth.

The proposed town is one part of a long-term strategy to accommodate 14,852 new properties in the district.

The new community is planned near the existing village of Isley Walton and would be called Isley Woodhouse, the council said.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said it would include a new village centre with shops, pubs and restaurants as well as community buildings, and new primary and secondary schools.

The scheme has been set out in the council's latest local plan - a strategy to manage future growth - and is one of a number of sites that could see major development.

Under the council's updated plan, 1,076 of the homes could be built off Park Lane in Castle Donington, a further 450 homes could be earmarked for land off Leicester Road in Ibstock, and some 500 houses are suggested west of Whitwick.

Public consultation planned

Part of the Money Hill development at Ashby-de-la-Zouch, currently under construction, would also contribute to the final count.

The council said the completed Money Hill site would have more than 2,000 homes.

The authority also said it would look to develop employment around Coalville, Ashby, Castle Donington and East Midlands Airport, and Mercia Park near Appleby Magna.

A public consultation on the latest proposals will run from Monday 5 February to Sunday 17 March.