Findings of Lutterworth East and Tarmac Quarry
Introduction
Alberto Costa MP sent a survey to every household in Lutterworth, Bitteswell, Misterton and Walcote, Shawell, and Cotesbach regarding the proposed development of a sand and gravel quarry by Tarmac, as well as revisions to the Lutterworth East application previously approved by Harborough District Council.
A QR code was included on the delivered surveys, enabling residents to complete the survey online. The survey was hosted on the MP’s website to make it more convenient for people to share their views on the proposals.
As with all surveys conducted by the office of Alberto Costa MP, the survey was designed to gather constituents' opinions on matters with a significant impact on the local community.
The survey received a total of 1,872 responses, evenly distributed between physical surveys returned via freepost and those completed online. This corresponds to an overall response rate of 32%. Given this return rate, the survey results can be considered statistically reliable.
Survey findings
Of those who completed the survey, 57% indicated that they were not aware of the proposals for a large gravel and sand quarry to the south of the proposed Lutterworth East development. Similarly, 63% of respondents were unaware of the application to vary the conditions to permit very large warehousing to the south of the proposed residential development.
One of the major concerns surrounding both proposals is the impact of HGV traffic on Lutterworth and the surrounding villages. Given that Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome is already used as a car auction site, a significant number of HGVs currently traverse the routes involved in the proposed applications.
An overwhelming 95% of respondents expressed significant concerns about the number of HGVs on roads in and around Lutterworth and the surrounding villages, particularly in Lutterworth town centre. Furthermore, 94% of respondents raised concerns about the environmental and traffic impacts of the proposed quarry.
In addition, 95% of respondents opposed the inclusion of large warehousing as part of the Lutterworth East development. A further 81% opposed the reduction of affordable housing provision from the agreed level of 40% to a minimum of 10%.
The final question in the survey asked residents whether they would support Alberto Costa, as the MP for South Leicestershire, in calling-in this application to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to be decided via the Planning Inspectorate. A total of 94% of respondents were in favour of the MP taking this action.
Conclusion
The survey responses, including submitted comments, indicate three key concerns:
- Firstly, dissatisfaction with the communication from Leicestershire County Council, Harborough District Council, and Tarmac, which many constituents felt has been inadequate. This has contributed to the sentiment among respondents that they have simply not been properly informed.
- An overwhelming majority of survey responses also expressed concerns that even more HGV journeys in the locality would have a detrimental impact on the environment, access to Lutterworth town centre and congestion in the surrounding villages.
- Finally, the application to increase the size of warehousing permitted on the site to the south of Lutterworth East has fuelled fears that the proposed development could represent merely the beginning of larger-scale warehousing expansions, far exceeding the scope of the current proposals.
At its meeting on Tuesday 3rd December 2024, the Harborough District Council Planning Committee approved, in breach of its own HDC Local Plan, the resizing of the proposed warehousing to enormous warehousing and a reduction from a minimum of 40% affordable housing, to a minimum of 10%.
I have written to the Secretary of State requesting a call-in review of HDC’s Planning Committee decision in breach of its own local plan.
Yours sincerely,
Alberto Costa
Member of Parliament for South Leicestershire
