Consultation Phase 1

Process

We believe, as part of the Co-operative Group, that we have the vision, commitment and imagination to develop a truly world class sustainable community that will set the standard for development in the future.

The Co-operative Group’s heritage and pedigree stand up to scrutiny.  This, together with our ideas and initiatives, all of which are well-developed, will make the Leicestershire eco-town an exemplar sustainable community. 

The Co-operative Group is at the start of the consultation process and with this unique opportunity in front of us we want to achieve something special.  To do this, we need your views and suggestions. We will be posting more information onto this website over the coming weeks, as our consultation process and the debate around an Eco-town for Leicestershire gets underway.

We hope as many people as possible will find the time to visit these events, meet our team and put forward their views and ideas.

The Government has identified four key stages in the process that will take an eco town bid through to the final ten bids and on to delivery. These are:

Stage One (up until 30 June) – a 12 week consultation on preliminary views on eco-town benefits

Stage Two (July-Oct) – more detailed consultation over the summer on a Sustainability Appraisal, which provides a more detailed assessment of each of the shortlisted locations. During this period a draft planning policy statement on eco-towns will also be published for consultation

Stage Three (end of the year) – a decision on the final list of locations and the publication of a final Planning Policy Statement later this year

Stage Four – Selected bids will then, like any other proposed development, need to submit planning applications which will be decided on merit

 

Please share your views with us on the emerging vision for Leicestershire’s eco-town by completing the ' Your Views' section of this website.

 

 

Phase 1 Consultation Dates

As part of our Phase 1 consultation, we held a series of public exhibitions for people to find out more and to meet the project team.

Dates and venues were as follows:

  • Tuesday 10 June
    The Three Swans
    High Street, Market Harborough
  • Wednesday 11 June
    Parklands Leisure Centre
    Wigston Road, Oadby
  • Friday 13 June and Saturday 14 June
    Exhibition Marquee
    on site of proposed eco-town, Leicester Airfield Gartree Road
  • Monday 16 June
    Leicester Tigers Rugby Club
    Ayleston Road, Leicester

 

  • The exhibitions were from 11.00am to 8.00pm.

 

Consultation to date

Following the Government’s eco-town timetable, we submitted our proposals to deliver an Eco-town for Leicestershire in October 2007.  Since submission we have discussed our ideas with a range of local and regional representatives and organisations.

We have met with and briefed the following local MPs.  For each, we have outlined details of our bid and answered questions.  We have also taken note of the views of their constituents, which will become an important part of the consultation process going forward.

  • Edward Garnier MP – Harborough
  • Alan Duncan MP – Rutland and Melton
  • David Taylor MP – Leicestershire North West
  • Sir Peter Soulsby MP – Leicester South
  • We are due to meet Rt Hon Keith Vaz MP and Rt Hon Patricia Hewitt MP in the near future

 

We also wrote to the following Government Ministers:

  • Rt Hon Hazel Blears MP, Secretary of State, Communities and Local Government
  • Rt Hon Caroline Flint MP, Minister for Housing and Planning
  • Ian Wright MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Communities and Local Government

 

We have met with and briefed the following local authorities and regional bodies, discussing with them a range of innovative new ideas on the themes of our proposals. 

  • Harborough District Council
  • Leicester City Council
  • Leicestershire County Council
  • Oadby and Wigston Borough Council
  • East Midlands Regional Assembly
  • East Midlands Development Agency

 

Future consultation

With the Co-operative land in Leicestershire shortlisted for an eco-town, consultation will be a fundamental part of the continuing development of the eco-town proposals. We will develop a comprehensive strategy, which will reach local residents, elected representatives and other interested parties; A process for which more detail will become available shortly, following the timetable set out by the Government. 

Should you wish to receive email updates on the consultation events and how our vision is progressing please register your details on the 'Your Views' page