InSwadlincote.co.uk

Grovewood, a 5,000-home eco-town

Swadlincote and Ashby could become part of a massive 'urban sprawl' if leaked plans to build 15,000 eco-homes in nearby Coalville go ahead, it has been claimed.

Andrew Bridgen, the Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for North West Leicestershire, issued the warning after a 'tip-off' that plans to build an eco-town in the area, rather than the original choice of Market Harborough, were being considered by Leicestershire County Council.

The news comes as residents in South Derbyshire continue to fight plans for Grovewood, a 5,000-home eco-town earmarked for land between the former Drakelow power station site, Cauldwell and Rosliston Forestry Centre.

Under a Government-led initiative to cut carbon emissions, Prime Minister Gordon Brown wants to see 10 such towns built across the country.

However, Mr Bridgen said Coalville should not be considered.

He told The Mail: "In recent years there has been a lot of development in Coalville, so if we have an eco-town dropped on us as well, it will be imposed on the district. I don't want to see it spoiled for us.

"I totally agree with what (South Derbyshire MP) Mark Todd has said about Grovewood. There will just be an urban sprawl from Swadlincote to Coalville, and I can't see the people of Ashby being happy about being in the middle.

"I think the council feel that because there's such an appetite for house building in Coalville, that they can just push these plans through."

Despite Mr Bridgen's claims, Leicestershire County Council said Coalville was being considered for more housing as part of proposed changes to the draft East Midlands Regional Plan, which will be published by the Government in May.

A spokesman said: "The current plan proposes 94,500 houses for Leicestershire, including 12,000 houses in North West Leicestershire, of which 4,875 would be in a sustainable urban extension to Coalville. The Government is likely to want significantly more.

"The independent panel that examined the current draft plan last year suggested that the Leicester to Burton corridor should be considered for more housing.

"The local authorities are therefore looking at the evidence for or against more development in places like Coalville."

He said that if Coalville was chosen for development by the Government, the potential re-opening of the Ivanhoe Leicester to Burton railway line would have to be explored to boost sustainability.

A decision on whether the Grovewood bid has been successful is expected in the next few weeks.

Source Burton Mail

Tags: Coalville, eco-town, Swadlincote