Plans for thousands of homes slammed

Proposed huge developments near villages causing alarm

PLANS to develop a huge area of land near Hinckley have been slammed as “totally unacceptable” by a county and borough councillor.

Liberal Democrat councillor David Bill is alarmed at a council proposal for up to 1,000 acres of new homes and infrastructure near Junction 2 of the M69.

The Strategic Development Area (SDA) lies to the west of Stoney Stanton and Sapcote and includes up to 4,500 homes and 2.8 million square feet of workspace.

The scheme would be very near the proposed Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange, a complex of 1,500,000 sq ft of warehouses between the railway line and the M69. Coun Bill, who represents the Hollycroft ward in Hinckley, said: “The report gives no indication of the sheer size of the proposal other than in a reference to 1,000 acres.

“In order to judge the scale of the proposal you need to look at the map which also shows the extent of the rail freight depot.

“This depot, which in reality is yet another large-scale warehouse development rather than a rail facility, will cover 500 acres, so this latest proposal is twice that size.”

He added: “We can only assume that the proposal will cover the same area as that approved by the County Cabinet in December when it submitted its proposal to the Housing Infrastructure Fund.

“This proposal indicated that the development would cover all the area between Burbage, Aston Flamville, Stoney Stanton and Sapcote, although the map has never been released.

“The sheer scale is thus totally unacceptable in terms of the loss of countryside, the impact on local roads, the impact on air quality and the impact on people.

“The scheme will have a considerable adverse impact on the neighbouring Hinckley and Bosworth area and I submit that the borough council should be consulted before this proceeds any further.”

Conservative county councillor for Stoney Stanton and Croft, Maggie Wright, said the SDA being so near the rail hub would prompt concerns.

She said “It’s the cumulative effect of two such big developments.

“There will be some sharp intakes of breath.

“The good news is that, unlike the rail hub, this is a local thing and we will be able to have some say on it.

“Sapcote and Stoney Stanton particularly have taken a lot of development and a lot of the facilities haven’t really followed. The infrastructure is really poor.”

The rail terminal is deemed to be of national importance and will be decided on by the Planning Inspectorate rather than regional councils.

It is unacceptable in terms of the loss of countryside, impact on roads, air quality and people David Bill, right