1 'Eco - Town' Andy Robinson East Area Have your Say

2 The County Council's Position Concerns about the process Concerns about development in the area Process from now on Involvement of the Public

3 The Process

4 How it should work Regional Plan, LDFs, Planning Applications Plan led, Local Authority led and with full public involvement Select the most sustainable locations Consider planning applications against the Plan

5 How eco- towns is working Separate process –Allows locations already assessed and rejected to come forward –Allows sites to be selected without comparison with others –By passes plan led approach –Minimises local democratic input Government role –Shortlist eco towns Evaluation not made available –Write eco towns national policy –Decide on the Regional Plan –Could call in a planning application –Would decide a planning application if refused or not determined –Landowner

6 Development to the East of Leicester Assessed as part of the Regional Planning process Land north and west of Leicester, at Hinckley, Loughborough and Coalville better East Midlands Regional Assembly agreed –LCC studies 'impressive' Regional Plan Public Examination Panel agreed –Co-op made representations - not supported –Panel recommended looking at Leicester - Burton corridor Reasons for being concerned about development in the area –Transport problems At least as great as elsewhere Most difficult and expensive to resolve –Employment Limited opportunity without excellent road access to the M1 –Environment Attractive area Water issues

7 Development to the East of Leicester (2) Other reasons to be concerned –Regional Plan makes provision for Leicestershire's needs Co-op = 15k more houses = 40k more people 96,000 homes (City + County) 25,000 homes on ‘sustainable urban extensions’ – greenfield but eco-town principles –Costs to the taxpayer - £500k conservative estimate for LCC alone

8 However

9 'Pennbury' has been short listed by Government Final shortlist by end of 2008

10 The County Council will act as community leader - needs to assess the pro and cons in detail

11 Need to assess the impact in terms of Transport –Realistic - 'people will bike and walk' will not wash –What type of development offices or warehousing? large houses or small houses? food or non food shopping? Employment –Will employers be attracted? –How many will be new to the area –How many in offices - effect on the City Centre –Trip generation

12 Need to assess the impact in terms of (2) Housing –Effect on the sub regional and regional housing market Will other sites already in the system be held back? –Effect on the supply of affordable housing Eco costs –Impact on City Regeneration Environmental impact –Water supply, drainage and sewerage –Eco proposals - costs and benefits Public facilities –Health –Schools –Leisure –Recreation –Libraries

13 Need to assess the impact in terms of (3) Affordability –On site infrastructure –On site services –Off site infrastructure –Off site services –Eco costs –Enough value?

14 Advantages of working with the other LAs, CLG, Co-op. One set of studies More cost effective

15 But......only if we have joint commissioning

16 and open and transparent process with full public engagement