New homes target for Leicestershire goes up by 31,000
Tens of thousands of extra homes may have to be built in Leicestershire to meet newly-revised Government targets, it emerged today.
Councils had been told to find enough land to build 100,000 new houses by 2025.
Now Whitehall has increased its forecast and wants 131,000 homes created by 2031.
The Government says its new housing targets are based on fresh population predictions from the Office of National Statistics.
County politicians are angry that the extra homes have been "dumped" on Leicestershire.
Councillor David Slater, Charnwood Borough Council's planning spokesman, said: "It's absolutely ludicrous for the Government to dump this extra housing demand on us. Loughborough cannot take any more development than is already proposed. I'm sure almost all councils in Leicestershire will have a similar view."
The East Midlands Regional Assembly, which decides where new homes are built, has been forced to revise its plans following the Government's increase.
Andrew Pritchard, the assembly's director of housing, planning and transport, said: "We had been looking at Leicestershire needing 4,020 homes a year over the period of the regional plan but now the figure has gone up to 5,240 a year. That obviously means quite a significant rise in the house numbers. It's clearly not uncontroversial.
"They are not assumptions we necessarily agree with but those are the ones set for us nonetheless. We will look to challenge them."
The assembly is now carrying out a consultation over where the new homes could be built.
Four options are being considered: concentrating them around Leicester; spreading them around major county towns; focusing on specific areas such as Loughborough and Coalville, or establishing a new town.
The idea of creating a new town comes just months after the Government ruled out the Pennbury eco-town plan for land between Stoughton, Oadby and Great Glen.
Thousands of people opposed the 15,000-home Pennbury – and councils responsible for finding land for new housing are preparing themselves for a new tide of uprisings and the formation of protest groups.
Already protest groups have been set up in Barkby, Blaby, Thurmaston, Loughborough, Earl Shilton and Whitwick after land was earmarked for development to meet the original 100,000 new homes target.
Dr Kevin Feltham, chairman of Campaign Against the Stoughton Co-op Eco Town, said: "If it's a few hundred houses across the county you could stick them on the end of a town somewhere, but it's not, it's 30,000 which is completely different."
Coun Ernie White, leader of Blaby District Council, said the authority was bracing itself for a sizable backlash from residents once sites start to be earmarked.
North West Leicestershire District Council's cabinet member for planning, Councillor Nick Rushton, said: "We question the housing projections and think it's pretty stupid to review a regional plan that was only completed this year."
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by Bill, Rothley
Tuesday, September 29 2009, 12:57PM
“Bring back the Pennbury plans!”
by devdas raja, belgrave
Tuesday, September 29 2009, 10:37AM
“firstly think about emty and run down residents in leicester then develop more homes because many many propertys are borded up in leicester”
by Ross, Leicester
Monday, September 28 2009, 2:32PM
“Britain isn't full. It is however chock full of second homes which people don't need. A person or family need one home. People with more than one should be taxed to the hilt. This would lead to a massive decrease in second home ownership, a big freeing up of housing stock, more quality places for people to live, and the ability for Britain to support its international responsibilities to shelter the oppressed who come here seeking shelter.
But this won't happen because it doesn't suit the fat cats who make the laws and own most of those second homes.”
by rob h, whitwick
Monday, September 28 2009, 2:19PM
“as a worker in a local brick manufacturer,who has been told the works are to be closed for 3 mths for the 2nd time in a year, i say bring it on.enough building trade workers in same position”
by J.Franklin, Leicester
Monday, September 28 2009, 2:00PM
“People I wouldn¿t stress yourselves, its going to happen any way, what ever government we have in place, what ever policies they can come up with next. They say England¿s a free country, its not been free for years. Like it or lump it. Those houses are going to be built and us tax payers will have to pay for it, and then us tax payers will have to continue to pay for the people on benefits living in it. Whether they are immigrants or British people who choose not to or can¿t work. Either way we don¿t have the choice.”
by Peter West, Northampton
Monday, September 28 2009, 1:13PM
“Why the reference to "Racism" because Dave Mowsley opposes immigration ?
A racist is someone who opposes only immigration by other races.
In my case, I believe the doors should be closed to everyone, irrespective of colour, religion or anything else. Because Britain is full, as this Government edict proves.
Sadly, it will soon be forgotten that the Government forced these extra houses onto the county, and everyone will be busy blaming the councils, whether county, borough or even parish.”
by Tom, Thurmaston
Monday, September 28 2009, 12:58PM
“I agree with Dave Mowsley and I am not racist.
Briatin is a small country with a very high population density.
This country is no longer a major world power despite what the government may think and instead of chasing more and more money, economic activity and people we should be focusing on quality of life and sustainability.
However, I fear that the government will only realise this once Briatain has turned into a giant version of Hong Kong or Manhattan and each person arriving at Dover and Heathrow results in some one else being pushed off the cliffs at John O Groats.
Its absolute madness and indicative of the viral,consuming nature of mankind which will eventually destroy us all.”
by Dave Mowsley, Leicester
Monday, September 28 2009, 12:37PM
“The reason the popultaion is spiralling is due to the massive growth of the population whereby those entering the country are having more and more children, many more than the indigenous population.
That may sound like too hot a point for the Mercury, but until we instill proper immigration laws as they do in Australia and America, this will continue to get much worse.
As a country we are too soft and it cannot and should not continue.
Cut the immigration, cut the easy benefits, cut the free and easy life for ALL spongers and make ALL people responsible for their development.”
by Uban Obkyia, Barwell
Monday, September 28 2009, 11:55AM
“We don't need more dwellings. We need less people. The human population cannot keep growing at its current rate, the planet is not big enough. We need shrinkage not growth. We also need to encourage families to stay together. Why do people, the Government, etc. think it is necessary for EVERYONE to own their own home? There was a time when young people stayed at home with their family. Now everyone above the age of 16 seems to want to buy their own house. Government, people, get a grip ! This can be solved in a different way. We really don't need to turn the world into concrete.”
by Keith, Kirby Muxloe
Monday, September 28 2009, 11:45AM
“Yet another Government edict. I am sick and tired of this Government and its never ending daft legislation and edicts. Who by name in the government is responsible? We were stupid enough to elect this bunch lets hope we are sensible enough to get rid of them or will we simply be swapping deck chairs on the titanic.”