Application lodged for 2,500 home Leicestershire scheme

The application for the £250 million scheme has been submitted to Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council by a consortium of housebuilders. The proposals include 2,500 "high quality" homes, a primary school and Community Hub.

The planning applications follows "extensive" public consultation with local residents, political representatives and stakeholders to seek the views of the local community on the plans. The consultations included a two day public consultation in January.

A proportion of the planned homes would be available for affordable housing. The homes are aimed at offering a mix of housing types to cater for first time buyers, key workers and the elderly, the Council said.

The proposals also include plans for an employment zone, new formal community sports facilities and associated landscaping and public open space.

During the consultations there was opposition to the location of the proposed sports pitches, which have been relocated in the revised plans. Revisions also include new allotments, additional open space and landscape planting.

“Engaging with the local people in Barwell was very important to us and we appreciated being able to discuss our draft proposals with the community during the public consultation exercise," said Jamie Gibbins of Barwood Development Securities.

"Our plans for Barwell West will not only deliver the new homes that the area needs, but will deliver wider benefits for the whole community, such as new jobs and training opportunities, new facilities for sport and recreational activities, an increase in spending in the local economy, as well as establishing the Barwell Centre Improvement Fund which will help to regenerate the centre of the village," Gibbins said.

The scheme includes proposals for new footpaths and cycle connections to Barwell, new highway improvements, traffic-calming measures and improvements to local public transport.

Financial benefits from the development are planned to be retained in the local Barwell and Leicestershire area by offering apprenticeships and training opportunities for local people, the Council said.

It is estimated that the site’s potential new residents could spend around £26m each year in local businesses, shops and services creating over 350 new jobs, the Council said, and the employment zone could provide approximately 500 jobs.

The scheme is planned to generate receipts under the Government's New Homes Bonus scheme, which would "benefit the communities of Barwell", the Council said.