“There’s a lot to fight for”: Great Glen councillor calls on residents to fight plans for 4,000 new homes
A councillor has voiced strong opposition to the proposed ‘new town’ development between Great Glen and Oadby, urging residents to make their voices heard.
Cllr Peter Scott, who represents Great Glen and Newton Harcourt, has warned that the plans submitted to the council by Urban and Civic and Homes England could worsen traffic congestion and put pressure on public services.
The Government’s housing and regeneration agency sent planning applications to Oadby and Wigston Borough Council and Harborough District Council earlier this month.
The plans show that farmland around Stretton Hall could be turned into a new neighbourhood with 4,000 homes built on the site.
Documents state that the scheme on the 932-acre site off Gartree Road could include 4,000 homes.
The plans read: “The vision is to create a sustainable, well-connected neighbourhood that delivers long-term benefits for the area.
“Half the Site will be green space, including the 78.5-hectare (194 acre) River Sence parkland and 13.5-hectare (33-acre) Wash Brook parkland.”
The vice-chair of Harborough District Council has worked with campaign group Stop the New Town (STNT), led by Dr Henri Winand, to challenge the proposals.
Cllr Scott said: “I am totally against [the plans].
“It’s just going to add 10,000 cars to a road that really can’t take that.”
According to planning documents, the proposed development would include two community centres, two primary schools and a secondary school.
Cllr Scott claims the area doesn’t have enough infrastructure to take on thousands more households and people.
He said: “We were expecting [a new GP surgery] in Glen some years ago. That never came to fruition.
“People have to travel quite a distance at the moment to get to the doctors.”
Already, eight people have lodged their complaints and have objected to the plans.
One person said: “Local schools, GP surgeries and other essential services are already under pressure. Whilst new schools are proposed, this does not adequately address wider healthcare and infrastructure requirements.
“These facilities must be guaranteed and operational before homes are occupied, not promised for some future date.”
Homes England said that if approved, the development could take up to 17 years to complete.
STNT is raising money to fight this and other applications affecting villages around Great Glen, with donations funding barristers to challenge the plans.
In September, councillors rejected plans for 180 new homes, off London Road in Great Glen, questioning the development’s impact on highway safety and congestion.
Cllr Scott explained: “[STNT] is fighting each one of those individually, but using the same arguments that I have - the traffic, infrastructure.
“I will be speaking strongly against the developments.”
The councillor is asking people to put in objections to the plans.
He said: “They need to put their comments in as soon as possible.
“People shouldn’t be convinced that it’s all over and it’s done with. There’s a lot to fight for.”
“Make their voices heard is the message really.”
People can comment on the proposals at https://pa2.harborough.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=makeComment&keyVal=TIJ1D7HW0HU00
The councils are expected to make a decision on the applications by January 4, 2027.