New plans designed to kickstart a major development and generate thousands of new jobs have been revealed.
Leicestershire County Council secured planning permission two years ago for the 550-acre Lutterworth East site – a key part of Harborough District Council’s local plan – creating 2,750 new homes, 36 acres of business space, over 100 hectares of green space, including protecting Misterton Marshes, schools and around 5,000 new jobs.
Now, with a vastly different landscape of rising construction costs and a stagnant housing market, the council has set out how it will make the scheme a reality:
- Create the business space first – so companies can move in
- Develop in phases – and consider options for homes next year
- Unlock a prime 30-acre development site on the M1 – by removing the unit size limit and marketing the site
- Invest in infrastructure – creating site access, delivering major M1 J20 improvements and contributing to Gibbet roundabout improvements
- Market the 6-acre Swift Valley Business Park – to create jobs
- Work with Harborough District Council – to review the right level of affordable homes in the current market conditions
Timescales are dependent on planning decisions but it’s hoped to find a developer to create the distribution site later this year, with work hoped to start in 2026.
Decisions about how best to develop the homes element will be considered next year.
Councillor Lee Breckon, cabinet member for finance and corporate resources, said: “The world has changed, with Covid, inflation and rising construction prices almost doubling the infrastructure cost of this project.
“Across the country, inflation costs are putting schemes under water but we’re determined to find the best way to generate jobs and much-needed homes.
“This is a complex project. We’ve thought long and hard about next steps and independent assessments show that phasing development and sales to ensure a financial return is the best approach.
“We need to be shrewd and that’s why we’re focused on making it financially viable and attractive to developers, reducing the risk to Council Tax payers.”
Harborough District Council’s ‘local plan’ sets out how land is used and what is built where and both councils are working together on next steps.
Lee Breckon added: “The housing landscape has radically shifted but we’re committed to working with the district council to ensure the local plan is delivered.”
Applications are being submitted to Harborough District Council proposing to remove the unit size limit for the distribution site, and a reduction in affordable housing.
