Leicester Forest South - Submitted 14 July 09

Blaby District Councillors voted to accept the findings of the Local Development Framework - Core Strategy Draft Submission (version 2) at a meeting held on 14th July 2009, to allow the development of some 4,500 new homes to be built in area " C " to meet "Government targets".

Area " C " covers the area south of Forest House Lane Beggars Lane, to the M69 to the south and the M1 to the east

You can view the 58 page report by following this link to the Blaby District Council web site >> Blaby District Council Local Development Framework - Core Strategy Draft Submission (version 2) <<

The cross hatched area currently farmland and the proposed location of the 4500 new homes.

Old Warren Farm, New House Farm Hopyard Farm and Abbey Farms will be swollowed up and lost in this new estate

Tenants of the farms will have to leave to enable the new homes to be built.

Access points marked X are through Thorpe Astley near to the Royal Mail Sorting Office and towards M1 Junction 21 & the M69.

A possible footway cycle route is proposed across the M1 to the north of junction 21 to Thorpe Astley

An employment area is also proposed the south of the M69 with a link bridge providing access directly from the housing development.

400 homes are expected to be built per year from 2013/14 with the last of the 4500 houses being available in 2025/26.

Some key points from the report follow

Policy 3 - Sustainable Urban Extension
Land west of the M1 at Lubbesthorpe (as shown on the Proposals Map) is allocated as a mixed-use Sustainable Urban Extension (SUE).

The SUE will contain:
• Some 4,500 new homes, 1,350 (30%) of which should be affordable,
• Employment opportunities,
• 3 primary schools and a secondary school,
• Health care facilities,
• Community / Faith facilities,
• Retail provision (circa 3,000 – 4,500 sq m (net)),
• Green space provision (including play and open space and strategic Green Infrastructure – including a new Green Wedge(s)). Opportunities will be explored to provide a ‘Community Forest’ within the Green Wedges,
• New and improved transport links (including walking, cycling and public transport provision) to key services and facilities including those in Leicester City Centre.

Housing delivery
6.7 The strategy for delivering housing will be to focus the majority of development (5,250 dwellings) within and adjacent to the PUA in the northern part of the District. The majority of housing (some 4,500 units) will be delivered on one large strategic site (a ‘Sustainable Urban Extension’ (SUE)). The SUE will incorporate a mix of uses to provide the services and infrastructure needed to support the new population (and potentially help to support existing communities).

7.3.3 It is important that development of the SUE integrates with the existing communities of Leicester Forest East, Enderby and Braunstone Town whilst safeguarding their individual identities. Where possible, facilities and services should be provided to meet the needs of existing as well as new residents.

7.3.5 The reason why the SUE has been chosen in this location over other alternatives are:
• The site is capable of delivering the quantity of housing required in the Principal Urban Area along with supporting infrastructure
• The site has flexibility to respond to changing housing requirements that may emerge through future versions of the Regional Plan
• The site is in the control of one landowner who is willing to develop the land
• The site lies close to the proposed Strategic Employment Site and other important employment areas including Grove Park, Meridian Business Park, Carlton Park and The Warrens Industrial Estate
• The site lies close to retail (Fosse Park) and Leisure (Meridian) facilities
• The site has the potential to provide Public Transport solutions that would encourage reduced journeys by car (particularly to Leicester City Centre) – this is based on data that indicates that settlements which are closer to the Core of Leicester City have populations with a greater propensity to use public transport
• It has close proximity to Park and Ride facilities at Meynell’s Gorse and Enderby allowing good public transport links into Leicester;
• The site could provide the quantity of development to secure infrastructure, including a secondary school
• The site has significant potential to provide Green Infrastructure
• Development of the site can can be achieved without threatening the identity of individual settlements.

7.9.9 The proposed SUE does not have any direct public transport links to key services and facilities. The only established public transport routes are along the A47 into the centre of Leicester. Any large scale development would require developer subsidy to encourage the establishment of new routes.

7.10.2 Whilst there may be some water supply shortfalls anticipated after 2012, it is considered by the Water Authority that this will be addressed by improvements to Derwent reservoir.

7.11.1New development can make a positive addition to an area, for example, providing new homes and jobs. It can also have an impact on the local community, placing additional pressures on the local infrastructure and facilities such as the local schools and other essential services. It may also have an impact on the highway network.

Greater community facilities (including public open space and sports provision) will be provided to meet the needs of the population and access to the Countryside will be encouraged close to urban areas through a series of Green Wedges.
Residents and visitors to the District will have a greater range of transport options to access services and facilities, where higher priority is given to walking, cycling and public transport than to the car.
There will be a comprehensive network of Green Infrastructure where habitats will be protected and a variety of species will be encouraged to thrive.

3.20 The percentage of people that travel to work by car (either as a passenger or a driver) is 72%, which is similar to Leicestershire as a whole (71%). The next most popular mode of transport for travelling to and from work is the bus (7%), which is slightly higher than the county average of 5%.

4.18 One of the key obstacles affecting the economic success of the District is its transport network. Some of the District’s key employment and retail facilities are located close to junction 21 of the M1. The road network around junction 21 experiences severe congestion, particularly at peak times from traffic entering the City of Leicester from the motorway network, and those accessing the large employment and retail facilities at Grove Park and the Motorways Retail Area.

Proposals to provide a direct link from the M1 to the M69 using a new ‘flyover’ is uncertain (and is unlikely to occur before 2018 at best), and the focus of further development to the west of Leicester may add to congestion already experienced.

View the Blaby District Council Local Development Framework - Core Strategy Draft Submission (version 2) in full

Clerk Details:
Sue Jones, 23 Seymour Way, Leicester Forest East, Leicester, LE3 3LY

Telephone : 0116 239 2198 Fax: 0116 239 2198 Email susanljones23@ntlworld.com