More than £2 million is being ploughed into boosting vital services in Harborough by a controversial new housing estate

CGI of a street scene at Burnmill Grange

More than £2 million is being ploughed into boosting vital services in Market Harborough by a controversial new housing estate.

A total of £2,017,883 will be pumped into improving schools, roads, healthcare and open spaces by the 128-house David Wilson Homes Burnmill Grange development on Burnmill Road.

The cash is being forked out as part of the housebuilder’s S106 contribution hammered out with Harborough District Council, the local planning authority.

The Burnmill Grange site sparked fury late last year when angry residents accused it of repeatedly flooding their streets and gardens.

Now David Wilson Homes is pouring £640,000 into helping to fund local road and highways improvements and schemes.

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”.

Some £477,158.40 will go into helping to provide new facilities at Ridgeway Primary Academy on The Ridgeway, off Burnmill Road, Market Harborough.

The cash will go towards creating “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 Homes is also making a £51,568.55 local healthcare award and a £273,497.60 investment in off-site open space.

The news comes as the developer begins to sell its first phase of two, three and five-bedroom properties at Burnmill Grange.

Rachael Harrison, sales director at David Wilson Homes East Midlands, said: “We’re thrilled to have launched the first phase of properties at our Burnmill Grange development at a time when the demand for new homes in Leicestershire is growing.”

She added: “We’d encourage anyone interested in the properties available to book an appointment with our sales advisers at Fleckney Fields, who will be on hand to discuss the options available to make a move to a brand new home.”

David Wilson Homes was ordered by Harborough council chiefs to stop using a farm track at Burnmill Grange days before last Christmas.

Harborough District Council acted after slapping a ‘temporary stop notice’ on the developer in November to protect people’s homes and endangered species, such as great crested newts.

The authority leapt into action following a breach of planning conditions and a barrage of complaints from fed-up neighbours.

The notice ordered the builder to stop using a farm track for construction vehicles on land at the development off Kingston Way.