Leicester Council Adopts Plan for 20,730 New Homes

0:00It's March 27. I'm Cory with the story. This is Lester News today, driven by AI. Lester City Council has officially adopted its local plan, paving the way for 20,730 new homes over the next 10 years. The plan passed at a full council meeting on Thursday, March 26, even though nearly half the councilors opposed it. Most of the development, over 70%, targets brownfield sites to minimize loss of green areas. Campaigners have raised alarms over specific proposals like industrial space in a gypsy and traveler site on Beaumont Park in Beaumont Lays, plus 412 houses and more on the old western park golf course. Residents there see these as threats to their last green spaces, with a petition signed by over 3,000 people going ignored. Opposition came mainly from conservative, green, and liberal Democrat counselors who pushed amendments to scale back the projects but lost the vote. Labor members argue that without the plan, uncontrolled building could lead to worse outcomes like developments without proper infrastructure or schools.

1:06In the end, 28 votes favored adoption, while 18 opposed it. The plan also flags other spots, such as land west of Ashton Green for 670 houses and north of the A-46 bypass for 400. This sets the state for detailed planning ahead, though locals hope to influence the final designs and protect what green space remains.