A46 would link the new countyhomes

Consultation has begun on plans for more than 150,000 new houses in Leicestershire by 2051 with the new A46 Expressway linking the developments.

The road is proposed to connect the A46 at Syston with the M1 between junctions 20 and 21 and then on to the M69 near Sapcote. The route would loop around the south and east of Leicester taking in parts of the Hinckley, Blaby and Harborough districts.

The road is central to plans for 74,000 new homes by 2031 and 90,000 new homes by 2051 all in Leicestershire.

180,000 homes need to be built in county by 2050

It would serve planned new housing developments of up to 40,000 homes in the Hinckley, Blaby and Harborough areas.

It would also service a proposed 10,000 homes development, the Northern Gateway, near East Midlands airport and a 5,000 homes development, the Southern Gateway, between Hinckley and Lutterworth.

Council bosses say if the A46 Expressway doesn’t go ahead those housing plans will be thrown into disarray and housing development in the area will be chaotic.

However since the A46 Expressway plan was revealed last year a number of politicians and campaigners have expressed doubt that the road will be delivered because of the likely huge cost of building it and the opposition it will face from communities which could be affected.

Residents are being asked for their thoughts on the Strategic Growth Plan (SGA) in a consultation running until April 5.

City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: “The alternative to the A46 Expressway is chaotic and un-coordinated development that could have a damaging effect on all communities in Leicestershire.

“The number of houses will still be needed but developers will build them in a less co-ordinated way.

“What we and all the other councils have done is put together a growth plan that we feel helps us meet the demand for new housing land in the best way. The A46 Expressway helps us achieve that as well as creating a major piece of new national infrastructure to connect the South West and the North East.”

Officials believe the road would also reduce existing congestion on the A46 north of Leicester and the M1 near the city.

Councillor Trevor Pendleton is the chairman of the members’ advisory group for the SGA said: “We are as confident as we can be that we will get the express way but it will need political and financial support to achieve.”

Officials say they will not be able to put a price tag on the new road until the final route is decided though it is likely to run into hundreds of millions of pounds.

They have however said its construction would need to begin in either the late 2020s or early 2030s for the SGA to achieve its aims.

Coun Pendleton added: “It is important to stress no decisions have yet been made but we do have to plan ahead.

“We know some of the proposal will be controversial but we need to gather people’s views.”