115 homes planned for small village ‘will put significant strain on services’, says councillor
By Chris Harper - Local Democracy Reporting Service 14th Apr 2026
Up to 115 homes are planned for a small Leicestershire village as a parish councillor says it will add a significant strain on services.
Developer Bellway wants to build the houses on land north of Gadsby Road, Heather, which it says will "help to meet growing housing need across North West Leicestershire".
A planning application has yet to be submitted, but the plans include 30 percent affordable housing, as well as new accesses to the development from Blackett Drive and Gadsby Road.
Bellway says they will be "high-quality homes, including a mix of properties suitable for first-time buyers, growing families and those looking to downsize".
In addition to new homes, the proposals include the creation of new public green space for exercise with outdoor fitness equipment, alongside new footpaths, with the existing footpath through the site set to be kept and maintained.
Play areas will also be built around the development which Bellway says will provide "opportunities for children to play and be active close to home".
Bellway says that it will also pay contributions to local infrastructure, including services such as schools, healthcare and transport.
A spokesperson for Bellway said: "We are pleased to be bringing forward proposals for new homes in Heather that respond to local housing needs while delivering a range of benefits for the wider community.
"Our aim is to create a development that not only provides high-quality homes but also enhances green space, supports local infrastructure, and helps people to find their homes of the future."
Meanwhile, Heather Parish councillor John Clarke told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "It's going to increase the size of the village by 25 percent, which is massive.
"It's going to put at least another 230 cars on the road in the area which is massive. It's going to put undue strain on the school, undue strain on the doctor's practice. It's going to probably be 400 new patients for the doctors, which I don't know that they can take.
"There is one tiny corner shop and most of all, there is no public transport."
Bellway has launched an online consultation for local residents to have their say (https://bellway-heather.co.uk/have-your-say/) with planning application expected to be submitted to North West Leicestershire District Council in summer 2026.
However, Cllr Clarke told the LDRS he believed people should not answer the survey, claiming it was "good marketing" and Bellway would have "no intentions or achieve anything that they promise".
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