Almost £52,000 will be pumped into improving two medical centres in Harborough by a highly-contentious new housing estate

Almost £52,000 will be pumped into improving two medical centres in Market Harborough by a highly-contentious new housing estate.

Some £51,568.55 will be awarded to overhaul and upgrade facilities at Market Harborough Medical Centre on Coventry Road and The Two Shires Surgery.

The cash is being handed over by housebuilder David Wilson Homes on the back of building its controversial 128-home Burnmill Grange development on Burnmill Road.

The company is ploughing £2,017,883 into the Market Harborough area after working out an S106 agreement with Harborough council and Leicestershire County Council.

David Wilson is investing £640,000 to fund local road and highways projects.

The money will help pay for “recommendations set out in the Market Harborough Town Centre Transport Strategy as considered appropriate by Harborough District Council and Leicestershire County Council”.

Another £477,158.40 will be poured into supporting new facilities at Market Harborough’s Ridgeway Primary Academy on The Ridgeway, off Burnmill Road.

The lump sum will help to create “additional capacity to accommodate pupil growth from the development”.

And £355,199.50 will help pay for new amenities at the 1,000-student Robert Smyth Academy on Burnmill Road.

David Wilson is also making a £273,497.60 investment in off-site open space.

Rachael Harrison, sales director at David Wilson Homes East Midlands, said: “We’re pleased to have launched our show homes at Burnmill Grange.

“Whilst we can’t welcome visitors in the way we’d like, we’ll be doing our best to support prospective homebuyers on an appointment basis.”

She added: “Market Harborough already has a close-knit community feel.

“We are looking forward to helping existing home-owners take the next step on the property ladder in addition to welcoming new buyers to this sought-after town.

“It’s the very first chance to view our brand new properties and we’d encourage anyone interested to book an appointment with our sales advisers.”

The Burnmill Grange site hit the headlines late last year as furious residents accused the housebuilder of repeatedly flooding their streets and gardens.