Saturday, November 01, 2008
First published : Local Government Chronicle
At a special meeting, the cabinet decided to support the Co-op Group`s proposal for an eco-town on a site that it owns outside Leicester, setting the council at odds with neighbouring Harborough DC, which has stated its concern about the plan.
The council`s conditions include making affordable housing at least 30% of the scheme; that the development should be planned as a sister town to Leicester; and that plans for jobs at Pennbury need to be co-ordinated with the work going on in the city.
The cabinet also laid down as a condition a tram system to connect Leicester with the new town. It also wants to talk to the government and other local councils affected about setting up joint governance of planning arrangements.
Patrick Kitterick (Lab), cabinet member for regeneration, said "There are still many more discussions we need to have, but we think that the council will be able to back this proposal if the final scheme is one which meets all of our requirements, and stands to benefit the city and the people of Leicester."
Kevin Feltham, a Leicestershire CC councillor for part of the proposed location and campaigner against the development, accused Cllr Kitterick and his leader Ross Wilmott of allowing their decisions to be swayed by their membership of the Labour aligned Co-op party.
He said: "I am extremely angry to hear of this overt political decision which flies in the face of the massive public opposition to this eco-town location by county and city residents of all ages."