Regulation 19 - Proposed Draft Local Plan Submission

Reduce the amount of development proposed in Market Harborough and the A6 settlements

The Civic Society objects to the amount of development proposed in Market Harborough[ see Table 2. Residents in the Town rely on the services provided in Leicester and elsewhere. Residents who live in Harborough need access to the private car (see statement in adopted Local Plan) and this will remain the position in the plan period. Public Transport will not be frequent enough or reliable to offset the use of the car.

By locating development in Market Harborough instead of on the edge of Leicester TRAFFIC PROBLEMS IN THE TOWN AND ON THE A6 WILL GET WORSE.

In 2017 A TRANSPORT STRATEGY FOR MARKET HARBOROUGH WAS APPROVED BY THE COUNTY COUNCIL AND HDC. As far as we are aware none of the Strategy has been implemented. It needs updating and a firm programme for improvements adopted before any more development is approved.

The Civic Society objects to the lack of proposals to improve roads and transport in Market Harborough and on the A6. including a By pass for Kibworth.
The road improvements need to be implemented before any more development is approved. We see development being carried out but not road improvements.
There is already a commitment to build 2000 homes in Market Harborough and at least half a million sq. ft. of commercial development at Airfield Farm. We have to accommodate the new prison. The roads in the Town are already congested and dangerous.

Delete the showground from MH2.
Road improvements need to carried out between Alvington Way and McDonalds roundabout before any more development takes place. Foxton Crossroads is very dangerous and needs urgent improvement. These improvements need to specified now and who is responsible to avoid arguments and delay in the future.

We find MH1 TO MH3 and Appendix 6 are not clear and precise policies.. Separate comprehensive policies should be drawn up for each site.

We have objected to development of the showground site so see no reason to replace it.

The implications of siting the showground near to housing need to be considered. There will be noise and disturbance from events and traffic implications. It is described as an agricultural showground but the events held there rarely come within this description.

Delete this allocation from the PLAN. If it should be decided that development can go ahead the infrastructure, particularly roads and transport, and other requirements should be identified for the site and not hidden away in Appendix 6.

Road improvemnts between Alvington Way and McDonald`s roundabout are required before development proceeds.
In our opinion the T junction on Peter Callis Way is dangerous and needs to be up graded as well as Foxton Crossroads already referred to.

The open land occupied by the Showground provides an important rural buffer between the Airfield Farm development and the prison. There is even a greater requirement for this buffer now that there are 2 prisons. When the new prison was considered there was no suggestion this site would be developed. The site is also on an important approach to Foxton and the Locks.
Foxton crossroads is a dangerous junction but it is unacceptable that there are no proposals for improvement.

Allocate more land for development close to Leicester. It is already stated that not all the land will be developed in the Plan period. The Council should take the opportunity to plan ahead for the next period.

The Civic Society has long advocated that development should be located on the border of Leicester adjoining the A6. where reliable public transport systems are already established. The justification for this location is set out in Par 4.7. We question the why only an extra 1200 houses is allocated in this location - Gartree. Other land has been suggested for development - why has it not been allocated for development.

Delete this allocation from the Plan.

If it should be decided that development can proceed then the extent of development and other requirements should be spelled out for the site not hidden in Appendix 6. A lower density of development should be stipulated allowing for larger gardens and tree planting.

Road improvements between Alvington Way and McDonald`s roundabout are required before any development goes ahead.

This grazing land provides an important open feature in the northern approach to Market Harborough. The ridgeline has already been breached with the development of Windmill Rd so retention of this open site adjoining the canal is even more important. A new access will be required to Leicester Rd adding more congestion and danger to this important entry to the Town.

Regard should be had to the appeal decisions on the west side of Leicester Rd where development has been refused on highway and other grounds.