Thousands more homes for county?
Thousands more new homes may have to be built in the county if plans for an eco-town on the edge of Leicester are rejected.
Housing Minister Margaret Beckett has admitted the Government would consider land around Coalville for extra homes to ensure its housing targets are hit during the next 20 years.
Plans to build a series of eco-towns across the country were announced in 2007 as a solution to reduce housing shortages.
However, Mrs Beckett says other options cannot be ruled out if they are to tackle the issue.
Her views have been revealed in a letter handed to the Leicester Mercury, which was sent to Harborough MP Edward Garnier this month.
In the note, Mrs Beckett suggests Coalville may be able to take more homes, if the Leicestershire eco-town project, known as Pennbury, does not go ahead.
This could mean more housing developments on top of the 12,200 properties set to be built in that area by 2031.
She said: "An eco-town is one option for growth, however, alternative approaches of reaching housing targets will also be considered and this may include different options for growth such as Coalville."
In the coming months, the Government is set to announce a shortlist of up to 10 sites across England which they believe would be suitable for an eco-town. Pennbury is currently being considered for the shortlist.
Critics of the Pennbury plan say that Mrs Beckett's letter is a sign that the Government is set to dismiss the 15,000-home proposal put forward by the Co-op between the villages of Great Glen and Stoughton.
Dr Kevin Feltham, chairman of anti-Pennbury campaign group Cascet, said: "In my view, Margaret Beckett's letter now mentions Coalville because they have now realised that Pennbury is an unworkable location."
This claim was denied by the Government, which told the Mercury that no decision on the suitability of proposed sites had been taken yet.
Pennbury developer Co-op also said that it was totally committed to its project.
Councillors have blamed Leicestershire County Council for the Housing Minister's comments, because of a letter the authority wrote to Government last year. In a letter, County Hall said the area south-east of Leicester was inappropriate for 15,000 new homes and emphasised the need for other locations to be considered for extra homes, specifically in north west Leicestershire.
Coalville county councillor John Legrys said: "The communities that make up Coalville need additional imposed housing like a hole in the head."
A county council spokesman said: "It is important to note that the county council's references to the potential suitability of further growth at Coalville were made before the onset of the current economic and housing market downturn.
"The county council's cabinet has expressed its serious concerns on this issue and has questioned the need for even more new homes."
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by Steve, South Wigston
Friday, March 27 2009, 3:12PM
“Paul - the recession has clearly had a major effect on the property market, with banks lending at a minimum, businesses folding and unemployment increasing. So naturally demand for new property decreases in such times.
However, recessions come and go, but people's desire to buy or rent their own property doesn't. The demand will always be there, and once the economy begins to recover it is crucial that there is enough affordable housing to go round.
Otherwise the situation will recur where first-time buyers are priced out of the market, just as they have been in recent years.”
by leicester bred, Coventry
Friday, March 27 2009, 3:01PM
“Stop immigration, get rid of the illegals and anyone who doesn't like being here, (religious nuts and radicals).Then spend tax payers money in industry and not greedy bankers.GET THE PICTURE”
by David Hankey, Great Easton, Leics.
Friday, March 27 2009, 3:01PM
“I could get to like Ms.Beckett if she carried on bringing commonsense in this debate.
It is hightime that a commonsense approach prevailed. A growing and overwhelming number of people are becoming aware that "Pennbury" is not the correct site for such a massive development and it really is only the Co-op and a few of their misguided New Labour friends think that this is the best thing since sliced bread - well I for one can tell you IT IS NOT!!
Land around Coalville as far more infrastructure in place with air, rail and major road networks already in the vicinity.”
by mark, coalville
Friday, March 27 2009, 2:12PM
“I thought the travellers get first dibs at land aound Coalville?”
by Paul Horner-Bailey, leicester
Friday, March 27 2009, 1:40PM
“So if people do not want to live in the properties that are already lying empty, when a high percentage of them from what i can see are new, why is that? and what will be the difference with these and the new ones to be built at Pennbury.”
by Steve, South Wigston
Friday, March 27 2009, 1:22PM
“Oh dear! Looks like the Mercury is attracting a torrent of ignorance today, including Cllr King who states "11,078 empty homes...Of these approx 60% have been empty for more than 6 MONTHS".
Yes Mr King - that's because nobody wants to live in them. It's not difficult to understand.
Also, the comments on immigration are quite amusing. Yes, of course immigration has increased over the last few years, but the UK population is also ageing rapidly and somehow you have to ensure there is enough revenue being generated to take account of this fact.
With pensions already in a real mess due to insufficient funds, immigrants - whether you like it or not - are a necessity.
Unless of course those supporting a ban on immigration are advocating even higher taxes? No, thought not.”
by mark, Blaby
Friday, March 27 2009, 1:19PM
“Perhaps the bogus demand for more houses and could be curbed by placing a limit on the number of children people have. But this would be seen as 'unfairly' targeting certain social, racial, and religious groups so THAT will never happen, and living standards for the sensible majority of us will continue to fall.”
by Cllr Phil King, Kibworth, Leics
Friday, March 27 2009, 12:39PM
“This news is rather apt, as there is a housing conference taking place today in Leicester, with the Leaders of the County, City and District councils from across Leics.
In the information pack for this conference, the Government's own figures ( 2008) show that across Leicester and Leicestershire there are 11,078 empty homes, of which 5,585 are WITHIN the City. Of these approx 60% have been empty for more than 6 MONTHS
Also it is clearly stated that a key issue for development in the rural environment is the need for infrastructure, particularly, transport and access to public transport. The latter 2 points are the major drawbacks with the CO-OP and their proposed Pennbury eco-town.
Whereas, over a long time there has been major investment acrosss NW Leics, in providing a first class road network eg A50,M1,M42,A42 etc which means that any new development would not be too far away from major roads, unlike the proposed Pennbury scheme.”
by Malcolm, Cornwall
Friday, March 27 2009, 12:05PM
“Quite right Major, a complete ban on immigration, send 'em back and as an example let's start with that bunch of Germans living in Buck House. For one generation a complete sterilisation programme for all people between the ages of 11 and 70 years, a ban on all IVF treatments and compulsory euthenasia for all over 70's. That should do it. Oh! and lets pay the farmers more for keeping the countryside set aside. Keep the ugly East Leicestershire countryside exclusive for all nimbies. Oh! did I mention compulsory purchase of all second homes, after all you don't NEED a second home. IMHO”
by Steve Puttock, SHARNFORD, HINCKLEY, LEICESTERSHIRE
Friday, March 27 2009, 11:18AM
“Unfortunately, we have a government who care nothing for the countryside and only want total urbanisation to gaurantee votes! There is no real need for the massive house building plans put forward-what is needed is better management of other more suitable sites. If Mrs Beckett is looking for new growth, I would suggest that the budget should be reset to continue with sites which have already been started and moth-balled, and that those houses, when complete, be allocated to councils or housing associations with a few for affordable homes so that those people who are in distress due to the current crisis can have somewhwere to live when they are evicted. Mrs Beckett would also be better placed looking to cure the immigration problem which is causing such a housing problem.”