Protests grow over plans for housing
A RALLYING call has been repeated to try and combat proposals for a huge new 2,750 housing development at Lutterworth.
Campaigners say the plans by Harborough District Council to urbanise a 504 acre swathe of countryside from south of Misterton to north of Bitteswell are misguided.
Phil Butler of protest group Lutterworth Now said: “This is a huge scheme. It would see the size of Lutterworth increase by more than 60%. In other words, for every 10 houses currently in Lutterworth, there will be six more.
“We will continue to help inform people about the sheer scale of the proposal and its potential negative impact on cur- rent residents, businesses and the environment during and after construction. The site itself is on open countryside including the River Swift, Thornborough Spinney and Misterton Marshes, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
“There are better, more environmentally friendly sites proposed in Harborough district that will help the council to meet its housing targets and spread the development across the area, rather than trying to solve the problem with one big hit at Lutterworth.”
The scheme, focused on a ‘new town’, tentatively titled Lutterworth East, features the raft of homes, a retail centre and industrial park.
The development, equivalent to 252 football pitches, would be linked to Lutterworth via a new road and bridge crossing the M1.
Proposals also include a primary school, a country park and employment opportunities.
The site was considered by planners to be the preferred option out of four being examined to help the council meet its housing and employment targets up to 2031.
More than 1,000 people have now signed the online petition objecting to the proposal.
A spokesman for Harborough District Council said: “The council is currently developing a new Local Plan for the Harborough District. It is anticipated that a draft version of the local plan will be published in the summer followed by an opportunity for public representations.”