Regulation 19 - Proposed Draft Local Plan Submission

Object

Representation ID: 13918

Received: 01/05/2025

Respondent: StopTheNewTown.org (or STNT)

Number of people: 2370

Agent: StopTheNewTown.org (or STNT)

Legally compliant? No

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? No

The proposed Plan overstates the housing requirement, relies on unviable and unachievable strategic sites without any detailed, funded plans on how to deliver associated infrastructures with a particular lack of information on transport.
Unnecessary buffer introduces significant adverse consequences, forces reliance on large complex & historically under-performing strategic sites, and contradicts principles of proportional growth (meeting needs / safeguarding assets). Headline housing numbers are prioritised over deliverability, community well-being and sustainability.
The foundation of HLP’s spatial strategy also rest on an outdated vision in the Strategic Growth Plan (2018) reliant on a, now abandoned, A46 Expressway proposal.
Council has neglected to properly consider alternative, more sustainable strategic development options i.e. West of Leicester / adjacent to new Lubbesthorpe.
Recent precedents demonstrate HDC has consistently struggled to bring forward large strategic sites effectively. Existing SDA should be prioritised, optimised and their delivery accelerated. HDC should adopt a more balanced and diversified housing strategy by avoiding an overreliance on unviable SDA's.

Object

Representation ID: 13930

Received: 01/05/2025

Respondent: StopTheNewTown.org (or STNT)

Number of people: 2370

Agent: StopTheNewTown.org (or STNT)

Legally compliant? No

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? No

We consider the Plan is not sound on all grounds. The Plan has systemic failures affecting multiple dimensions and is considered fundamentally unsound, not positively prepared, not justified, not effective and not consistent with national policy.
Issues include; inflated housing targets, a premature strategic site allocation, failure to consider alternatives, an obsolete strategic growth plan, viability and deliverability concerns, an infrastructure deficit, and cross-boundary failures.
Ensure comprehensive legal and procedural compliance across all facets of the Plan’s preparation and implementation.
Concern also expressed about the process, length, inclusivity and meaningfulness of the consultation process.

Object

Representation ID: 13931

Received: 01/05/2025

Respondent: StopTheNewTown.org (or STNT)

Number of people: 2370

Agent: StopTheNewTown.org (or STNT)

Legally compliant? No

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? No

Allocation is premature, speculative and lacking in fundamental deliverability criteria. Site lacks the strategic coherence required for its magnitude, rests on unsubstantiated assumptions regarding infrastructure, viability & phasing, transport & impact on the A6, and is not supported by binding agreements, funding or implementation frameworks.
Critical infrastructure components are absent from the IDP and site viability is contingent on optimistic projections (Dev contributions, land assembly, market conditions) risking policy compromises and non-compliance, undue burdens on existing communities and sub-standard outcomes.
Concerns about SA02 and the whole plan include; erosion of Green Wedges, settlement identify and loss of agricultural land, climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental degradation, flood risk escalation, socio economic misalignment, the creation of a dormitory settlement, and escalating infrastructure deficits (see appendices).

Object

Representation ID: 13936

Received: 01/05/2025

Respondent: StopTheNewTown.org (or STNT)

Number of people: 2370

Agent: StopTheNewTown.org (or STNT)

Legally compliant? No

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? No

The IDP lacks specificity, funding certainty, and phased implementation strategies rendering the Local Plan ineffective in practical terms. The IDP should embed cross-boundary coordination protocols to ensure seamless integration with neighbouring authorities, avoiding piecemeal or disjointed infrastructure provision.
The cumulative impact of policy SA02 (Land South of Gartree Road) deficits in highway enhancements, public transport, healthcare, education and upgrades to sewage treatment, water management and flood defences would overwhelm existing services and degrade quality of life for new and existing residents.
An absence of Statements of Common Ground with highway authorities is identified.