Brownfield sites left vacant by virus may be used for housing
‘Any review would look at all the new relevant evidence’
THE county council has said that sites left empty because of the coronavirus crisis could be considered for development.
Sharon Scott, a resident of Sapcote, asked the scrutiny committee at Leicestershire County Council if the authority’s plans to develop swathes of land across the county could be revised, as the impact of Covid19 may leave many brownfield sites in Leicester vacant.
She wanted to know if there would be a review of the authority’s Strategic Plan as well as its Strategic Growth Plan (SGP), which would involve many homes and a main road being built near her home.
The SGP sets out to build a bypass road from the A46 near Syston, in an arc around the south and east of the city to join the M1 at a new motorway junction between Leicester and Lutterworth, before carrying on to the M69 near Hinckley.
It would create a corridor to support some 38,000 homes and a number of employment sites, with many residents concerned about the loss of countryside.
The council said in its response that Ms Scott’s concerns are most likely concerned with the SGP proposal.
It said: “It would therefore be a matter for the SGP partnership through the members advisory group and its constituent authorities to decide whether or not to carry out a review of that plan as a result of new evidence arising from the pandemic, and it would be for the partnership to identify the scope of that review.
“Whilst the view of the partnership could not be pre-empted it was fair to assume that any review would look at all new relevant evidence including the supply and demand of land for development including brownfield sites in the city and across the county.
“Regarding the timing of such a review, this would be a matter for the partnership through the members advisory group to determine.”
Ms Scott said she was aware that Blaby District Council is reviewing its local plan and is under pressure to take the housing overspill from Leicester into rural areas, and she urged that disused parts of the city should be used before developing land on county council farms.
She told councillors that more urban areas would become available as people switch to home working, while the growth in online shopping may leave many shopping centres vacant and free for redevelopment as housing.
Another concern she raised was that the money earmarked for strategic development areas could be better spent on providing high-quality broadband to rural areas.
She said this is particularly the case in south west Leicestershire, where many residents work in the services industries.
Councillor Simon Galton, chairman of the scrutiny committee, said in reply: “A review of all the county council’s key policies is likely to be undertaken as part of the county council’s planned recovery from the pandemic.”
He added: “Covid-19 has impacted working practices and travel and shopping patterns.
“Businesses will, no doubt, review whether any changes enforced through this unprecedented period become new established practices.”
Responding to Ms Scott’s broadband query, Cllr Galton said: “The county council remains committed to supporting economic and housing growth in the county.
“Supporting large sustainable developments and the provision of high-quality superfast broadband are key elements of the county council’s approach.
“As part of its work on recovery, and taking account of pressures on the public purse, market conditions and other societal changes post-Covid-19, the county council will necessarily be reviewing its spending priorities.”