Earl Shilton set for Major Expansion with 1,500 New Homes
A significant expansion project in our town is on the brink of approval. Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council’s planning officers have recommended the green light for a development plan that will see 1,500 new homes built on 104 acres off Clickers Lane in Earl Shilton. This extensive project also includes a new school, community hub, shops, and employment land.
The ambitious scheme is divided into two separate planning applications. The first encompasses 1,000 homes and an area designated for employment, while the second covers the remaining 500 homes along with the school, community hub, and retail space. Both applications are slated for a decision by the council’s plans committee on Tuesday evening.
Known as the Earl Shilton Sustainable Urban Extension (SUE), the project is a joint effort by developers Bloor Homes, Jelson Homes, and Barwood Land. If approved, the development will introduce new access points from the A47, Mill Lane, and Astley Road. The developers have committed to nearly £22 million in contributions to local services and facilities. Approximately £18 million of this will be directed towards education, including the construction of a new primary school and additional support for other local schools and special education needs provision. The plan also allocates over £1.1 million to healthcare and £1.3 million towards enhancements at the Weavers Springs sports fields.
In a report prepared for committee members, planning officers highlighted the potential economic benefits to Earl Shilton, stating: “The development is located in close proximity to Earl Shilton, and the services available there would no doubt receive some economic benefits from this development.” The report also underscores the housing benefits to the borough, noting that 20 percent of the homes will be classified as affordable.
Despite the promising aspects, the applications have sparked over 40 objections from residents. Concerns include increased traffic, strain on local services, the number of housing developments already present since the SUE was initially proposed, and the loss of green land. One resident expressed their dismay, saying, “Absolutely saddened and shocked that this is still trying to go ahead! I live on Mill Lane, which is a quiet place for residents to live and people to walk, cycle, ride their horses down. The lane will be turned into a busy main road, and the extra pressure on the town will be immense, with zero benefits to the local people or environment. Stop ruining Earl Shilton!” Another remarked, “This is the last green space in what was a village surrounded by fields. Countryside walks will be a thing of the past, with no fields and open spaces to enjoy, including the loss of three footpaths. This proposed development will overstretch existing infrastructures and destabilize the hard work done by the community who strive to make the town better.”
The council’s plans committee will convene to review the applications on Tuesday evening at 6:30 PM. The outcome will determine the future landscape of Earl Shilton and the extent of its transformation under this large-scale development initiative.
