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Harborough District Council, Oadby & Wigston Borough Council, Leicester City Council and Leicestershire County Council have today jointly released the findings of the work they and the Department for Communities and Local Government commissioned to give an independent assessment of the potential impacts and consequences of the proposed eco-town Pennbury on the wider Leicestershire community.
The work, which was undertaken by independent consultants, looked in detail at the proposals from the Co-operative Group and also at the Government’s assessment of the sustainability of the Pennbury location.
Some of the key points that the consultants have highlighted are:
1. The difficulty there is likely to be in attracting sufficient jobs for Pennbury residents, and in locating the majority of them within the town.
2. More work is needed to relate the types and sizes of houses to be provided to the needs of potential residents.
3. The relatively high density of housing proposed will make it difficult for the town to reflect the rural character of the area it would sit within.
4.Significant investment in public transport will be required to successfully service this development. Currently it is not clear how this will be achieved.
5.The potential impact on regeneration and the economic health of Leicester City.
Copies of the summary report are now available on the website of each of the four councils. In addition paper copies are available to view at the offices of the four councils, public libraries, parish council offices and community centres. The full report and its appendices will also be available on line.
The Government is currently in the middle of a public consultation exercise regarding how proposals for eco-towns should be dealt within the planning system, and of the sustainability of their approach to eco-towns. The results of Pennbury study are a useful guide to help both individual residents and the four Councils to decide how to respond to that consultation.
The four councils will take the report’s findings as a part of the basis for working together to continue their dialogue with the Co-operative Group re Pennbury. There remain many aspects of the Co-op’s proposals which require further work and clarification to show whether Pennbury could be a viable and suitable location.
It will not be clear until sometime in early 2009 whether the Government will give its backing to the Pennbury site.
The four councils will each pursue their own independent route, through their respective Council Committees, to arrive at any decisions re Pennbury.
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