A Community that Stands Together Can Change its Future!
[Map showing proposed site of 4,000 houses south of Gartree Road]
That was the main theme of Dr Henri Winand’s Presentation at Evington Village Hall, on Saturday 11th July 2026. An audience of 35 listened as Dr Winand outlined the plans for 4,000 new houses south of Gartree Road. He went into some detail, pointing out that despite all the glossy brochures produced by the developers that the plan has major flaws.
Firstly, there is no credible spatial strategy to improve the road network, to achieve specific goals such as sustainable development, efficient resource use, improved quality of life, land use management, and coordinated infrastructure projects.
The plan fails to adequately address public transport routes, and housing developments to maximize accessibility, reduce congestion, and enhance environmental quality. Specifically, the plan has little or no reference to improving the wider road networks other than some very minor tinkering at the edges such as improving a roundabout here and there or putting traffic lights and traffic calming measures in place.
Developments to the Southeast of Leicester City were largely dependent upon the advancement of an Eastern bypass linking the A47 and the A6. This is now proving too costly and is currently not in any long term local or national budgets. Thus, road congestion will be increased causing longer traffic queues, frustration and time wasted in traffic jams.
Dr Winand pointed out that although the developers were promising new jobs through the building of three new schools, a new bus service and GP services, these are not due for delivery until demand through house sales reaches a critical capacity. He also warned that these developments can also be downgraded should the financial circumstances of the developers change.
He went on to point out that there are no major employers in the vicinity which means minimal local employment and people having to commute to work. He referenced the wider building development plans likely to be put forward that mirror the Penbury New Town plans that were previously dismissed. These would have a major impact on our area and might lead to further development along the M1 corridor. He argued that the developments along the eastern edge of Leicester were in entirely the wrong place and that locations such as Loughborough, Coalville, Hinkley, Lutterworth, Market Harborough and Melton Mowbray were more suited to development given their already established industry and communication networks.
Dr Winand urged the audience to join Stop the New Town, inform others of the potential situation and to support the employment of a barrister to represent residents at the Planning Inspectors hearing through donations which can be made on-line or by post.
Stop The New Town have a website which can be accessed here: https://stopthenewtown.org/
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