Feedback

Views from consultation

TRANSPORT

New Roads - A large majority of attendees were of the impression that The Co-operative Group would be providing new roads, external to the eco-town. There was the suggestion that a link should be built between the eco-town and the A47 rather than the A6, because the A47 is perceived to be less busy.

Page(s) in Vision Document: 67

Public Transport - There was significant scepticism about the ability of The Co-operative Group and English Partnerships to deliver a public transport service to such a level that people would want to leave their car at home. For attendees to use new public transport, it would also have to have frequent and reliable links with the surrounding villages. This would encourage people to use public transport. 

Page(s) in Vision Document: 65-67

Walking and Cycling Routes - Attendees questioned whether The Co-operative Group were going to retain the existing pathways, some of which have been around for a hundred years.

Page(s) in Vision Document: 65

Construction Traffic - Attendees requested further information about how The Co-operative Group propose to deal with construction traffic if there was no freight link. Views were expressed that there is insufficient capacity on the existing network to cope with construction vehicles, and an inability to widen the existing roads.

Page(s) in Vision Document: 65, 91, 95

Transport Strategy - More detail and thinking on the transport strategy is needed. Although some attendees said they would be happy with the eco-town proposal if it could deliver the improvements needed to the existing network and public transport, the perception of most attendees was that the eco-town would just add to the problem rather than offering solutions.

Page(s) in Vision Document: 64-67

 

ENVIRONMENT

Coalescence - There was expressed fear of the villages being absorbed into the eco-town.

Page(s) in Vision Document: 34-35

Farming - People felt that The Co-operative Group has neglected this site in recent years and should be doing more to promote and improve the current level of farming. If The Co-operative Group was able to change farming practice and grow food for local villages now then this would demonstrate that the Group could deliver what they are proposing.

Page(s) in Vision Document: 98-101

Flooding - Great Glen floods frequently, the development of the eco-town would only add to this.

Page(s) in Vision Document: 86-87 

Open Space - People would like to see as much open space as possible. There was the suggestion of including a country park. 

Page(s) in Vision Document: 36, 56

Biodiversity - Biodiversity on the site is another topic which attracted local interest.  However, only 41% of respondents to the feedback form supported the proposals to
increase the level of biodiversity on the site. Greatest support for this proposal came from those who lived within the wider Leicester area (57%) and the rest of the UK (59%).

Page(s) in Vision Document: 7, 24, 76

 

CLIMATE AND ENERGY

Energy production - Attendees were interested in the new methods being proposed, and were keen to find out more information on this.

Page(s) in Vision Document: 108-117

Sewage - Questions were asked about how The Co-operative Group were proposing to discharge sewage. Would they connect into the existing network?

Page(s) in Vision Document: 89

Infrastructure - The choice of infrastructure would have an impact on long-term sustainability of the project.

Page(s) in Vision Document: 116-117

Sustainability Standards – Under half (43%) of all respondents felt that pioneering the highest standards of sustainability was an important issue. Those who were in greatest support of these ideas were in the age range 17-44 (58%) - possibly reflecting the more recent promotion of sustainability issues in the media and everyday life.

Page(s) in Vision Document: 109

Renewable Energy - Less than half (42%) of respondents were in support of this proposal.  The greatest support for this proposal came from organisations with 80% of respondents feeling that this was important.

Page(s) in Vision Document: 113

 

HOUSING

The Need - Questions were asked around the actual need for an additional 3 million homes nationwide, and why such a large number of homes is proposed for Leicestershire. A number of attendees questioned who would live in the eco-town, and where would they come from.

Page(s) in Vision Document: 68-69

Affordable Homes - Many attendees felt that with the current economic climate, the issue and quantity of affordable housing needs to be reassessed. In addition to this, it was considered that the definition of affordable housing set by CLG is not realistic nationwide, or in Leicester. The quantity of affordable housing being proposed by The Co-operative Group and English Partnerships was considered unrealistic.

Page(s) in Vision Document: 69

Questions were also asked about what was meant by affordable homes, what they might look like, and how much they would cost. In addition to this there was concern about how The Co-operative Group and English Partnerships could ensure that the ‘affordable houses’ could remain affordable once they had been initially occupied.

Page(s) in Vision Document: 69

Reducing household running costs – A large proportion of people responded positively to the question related to reducing household running costs. Just under half (48%) of those who responded to this question felt that this was an important issue to consider.

Page(s) in Vision Document: 70

Different housing types - The provision of different house types and tenures was slightly more important to respondents. Of those who responded to this question, 42% of respondents thought that this was an important issue for the masterplanners to consider.

Page(s) in Vision Document: 68

This was an issue which was important to the age categories 17-44 and 75+. The need for different housing types within these age ranges is typically greatest. There is the need for homes for first time buyers, young couples, family homes, and also homes for the elderly.

Page(s) in Vision Document: 68

 

COMMUNITY

Provision for different faiths - There would be need to provide adequate facilities for different faiths. This would include places of worship, and also other facilities such as cemeteries.

Page(s) in Vision Document: 122

Twinning of Leicester - Leicester is twinned with another European city where there is a good community spirit and appropriate mix of industries, and lessons need to be learnt from there and elsewhere.

Page(s) in Vision Document: 16, 120-127

Long term working with local stakeholders and businesses - It was thought that this would be crucial to strengthen the economy of the eco-town.

Page(s) in Vision Document: 126-127

Anxieties - There were fears that the eco-town would become an ‘eco-ghetto’, or that the cultural/racial mix of the town would be very different from that of the surrounding villages.

Page(s) in Vision Document: 73, 122-127

Working with local regeneration teams - The Co-operative Group working with other regeneration teams within the wider Leicester area had a lower level of support (38%). The greatest support of this idea came from those who lived in the wider Leicester area (56%) and the rest of the UK (59%), and those within the age range 17-44.

Page(s) in Vision Document: 24

Local role in design - Less than half (41%) of those who responded to question 9 thought that it was important for the local people to play an active role in the design of the eco-town. Feedback throughout the events from the public was that they wanted to be more involved with the decisions which are being made regarding the eco-town. The introduction of a design advisory panel would enable the local community to have more of an involvement in the development of a masterplan and the design of the town. Of the age ranges which thought that a design panel is an important issue, there was greatest support from the age range 17-44.

Page(s) in Vision Document: 73, 122-127

 

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

Health Care - provision was a question which was frequently raised. Attendees were concerned with the current level of healthcare provision in the area. It was felt that the development of the eco-town would provide a further strain on this already stretched service. A new hospital was proposed for Harborough in 1991, but not built.

Page(s) in Vision Document: 73, 96

GP and Dentist surgeries – Questions were raised about the number of surgeries that would be provided within the eco-town.

Page(s) in Vision Document: 97

Local crops - The Co-operative Group has put forward the idea of residents having the opportunity to grow their own crops as well as having the opportunity to purchase crops grown on local farms surrounding the town. One third of people answering this question felt that this proposal was important.

Page(s) in Vision Document: 96, 98-101

Open space - In total 42% of respondents believed the proposal for the eco-town to have open space within the town itself was important. This proposal is supported fairly consistently through the spread of postcodes, and also various age categories.

Page(s) in Vision Document: 56

 

EDUCATION & SKILLS

Education - Many people explained that they have moved into this area to be within the catchment area of one of the good local schools. They feared that these catchment areas may change if the eco-town is developed.

Page(s) in Vision Document: Pages 102-103

Existing Schools – Attendees were unsure what would happen to these, and asked whether The Co-operative Group have thought about how the eco-town would impact on them.

Page(s) in Vision Document: 102-103

Education facilities - Just under half (46%) of respondents felt that it was important for educational facilities to be in place from day one. Having the educational facilities in place from day one will prevent over burdening of the current education system. This proposal had over half (57%) of the age range 17-44 in support. From the discussions taking place during the public exhibition, it was evident that the education service within this area is highly sought after with some families moving into the area to fall within the catchment area of the schools.

Page(s) in Vision Document: 102-103

New academy - Approximately a third (34%) of respondents felt that a new academy for sustainable technologies was important. The greatest support for this proposal came from the age category 17-44 (46%)

Page(s) in Vision Document: 103

Community Ownership and Management - Around a third (37%) of respondents felt that it was important that the local community is involved in the ownership and management of their schools and training facilities. There were many comments from the public exhibitions relating to the community wanting more input and say in the proposed eco-town.

Page(s) in Vision Document: 122

 

EMPLOYMENT

Employment - Many attendees were interested in the make up of jobs within the eco-town. There was the impression that the eco-town would attract a large number of heavy industries to the area.

Page(s) in Vision Document: 7, 24

There was concern that ideas being proposed by The Co-operative Group and English Partnerships are not realistic or feasible. People felt that the target retention of 60% of people living and working within the eco-town is highly unrealistic. Some attendees had the perception that The Co-operative Group would force people not to travel or work elsewhere.

Page(s) in Vision Document: 24

Commercial and retail development - Over a third of those who responded to question 20, felt it was important for there to be an economic strategy within the eco-town which enabled commercial and retail development to complement growth in the region. 70% of organisations felt that this was an important issue, indicating that it is vital to ensure that new retail or commercial development within the town is complementary and not conflicting with the current levels of growth in the area.

Page(s) in Vision Document: 107

Homeworking and Broadband – Again over a third (36%) of those who responded to this question were in favour of this initiative. Half of those who were in favour of this came from the age category 17-44 – possibly including young families wanting to stay at home to look after new born children while continuing to work.

Page(s) in Vision Document: 7, 107

Wide ranging skills - 36% of respondents were in favour of this initiative, with the greatest support coming from the age category 17-44 - possibly including young adults looking for employment in a wider range of sectors.

Page(s) in Vision Document: 104

 

GENERAL

Commitment – Attendees asked what interest The Co-operative Group and English Partnerships would maintain in the eco-town once it has been built. They questioned whether The Co-operative Group and English Partnerships could actually deliver what they are suggesting or whether these proposals, are ‘pie in the sky’. Reference was made on several occasions to other failed local housing schemes such as Beaumont Lees, Kibworth and Hamilton. In addition there was also some criticism of The Co-operative Group’s local property maintenance

Page(s) in Vision Document: 127

Future Expansion - Attendees asked questions about limiting further expansion of the town once built.

Page(s) in Vision Document: 34