Masterplan idea to settle building row
A MASTERPLAN will be drawn up to say where and how 1,000 homes on land north west of Harborough should be built.
Harborough District Council is committed to the homes after earmarking the land for development in its Core Strategy planning document.
But it wants to work with developers, landowners, Leicestershire County Council and the community to produce a detailed plan.
Two planning applications for the area have already been submitted to the council.
William Davis wants to build up to 1,000 homes on a 140-acre site off Leicester Road, in a project which would include a school, community centre, shops, allotments, playing fields, a marina and country park.
A separate, 132-home application has also been submitted by Linden Homes for land off Lubenham Hill.
The council says the masterplan – which it agreed to draw up following a meeting of its executive committee on Monday – will give it stronger controls on housing in the area.
Cllr Janette Ackerley, who holds the housing portfolio on the council’s executive, told the meeting: “It’s definitely the way forward. It’s such an important part of the development of Market Harborough.
“Getting all the developers together to come up with this masterplan is the right thing.”
The meeting heard the plan will define the extent of development within the broad ‘north-west development area’ it identified in its Core Strategy planning documnet.
It will take into account access to the site, traffic and landscaping as well as community needs such as a school, shops and recreational areas.
The council will put on hold decisions on the two applications it has received until the masterplan is adopted in November or December, following a public consultation.
Meanwhile the MHRAID campaign group fighting Linden Homes’ application has taken the rare step of paying for an advert on the front page of today’s Mail, calling on people to raise objections.
Linden Homes says the site forms part of Harborough District Council’s Core Strategy.
But this is refuted by MHRAID, who have reported the developer to the Advertising Standards Agency.
The Mail contacted Harborough Council to clarify the matter, but was told it would be a matter for discussion by its planning committee when determining the application.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Harborough
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.