North West Leicestershire is to build more than 5,000 extra homes over the next 14 years to to help meet a Leicester City Council shortfall.

It means the region's housing target has almost doubled with over 10,000 houses to be constructed by 2036.

Thousands of homes which were due to be built in Leicester have now been moved to districts across Leicestershire - because the city simply does not have the space to fit them all in.

Demand for new homes is now so high that the Government has imposed swingeing housing targets on every local authority in the country.

Leicester City Council had been asked to build 39,400 new homes between 2020 and 2036 after the the Government announced that the 20 largest cities in England would need to increase their new housing supply targets by 35%.

But less than two years in, the city says it cannot fit them all in – and so 18,700 have been taken off its targets and shared out among the Leicestershire districts instead.

North West Leicestershire district is listed to take the second highest increase at 5,024.

This means the district's target has almost doubled to 10,948.

The region includes, Ashby, Measham, Coalville and Castle Donington.

Ashby has seen a number of new esates built in recent years including this one at Potter's Grange. Photo: Ashby Nub News

Blaby is taking the biggest share of the city's shortfall at 5,536 more homes which will need to be built between now and 2036. This more than doubles the number of new homes it needs to build in the 16 year period to 10,992.

Hinckley and Bosworth borough has taken 2,992 off the city's target, meaning 10,544 need to be built by 2036.

Harborough district will now be required to build 1,968 more homes taking its total to 10,512.

Charnwood had the highest original housing target of all the districts in Leicestershire at 17,776, this will increase by 1,248 to 19,024 homes before 2036.

But it will also be asked to meet the need for 23 hectares of new employment space due to an over-supply of employment land and the availability of employment sites and land which is close to the city.

Melton needs to find room for 1,104 extra homes taking its to target to 4,800 homes.

Oadby and Wigston will have the smallest share of the re-distributed housing at 1,008 giving it a 2036 target to build 3,840 new homes.

The redistribution, leaves Leicester with a target of 20,700 new homes by 2036.

However, as the time period started in 2020, a number of the eight councils will have already built a number of new homes.

All the councils across Leicester and Leicestershire are legally obliged to work together to meet housings targets under the current planning law set by the Government.

Each area's share of the unmet need was worked out by considering factors such as the relationship of each district with the city – for example is there are high levels of commuting between the two – the balance of jobs and homes in each district, and whether the homes are deliverable.

City mayor, Peter Soulsby said: "We are making enormous efforts to accommodate as much housing and employment land in the city as we can, for example with the ongoing development of Leicester's Waterside and at Ashton Green.

"However, we simply cannot meet predicted need for all the housing and employment land the Government sets out.

"That's why we are immensely grateful to all our neighbouring councils for their constructive attitude to this Statement of Common Ground.

"By working together, we can ensure that agreements about where development takes place stay in the hands of local decision-makers who are accountable to local people."

In a joint statement, the district, borough, city and county council have said they are looking at plans for how those homes which cannot be accommodated in the city might be distributed.

Councillors still need for formally approve the new changes in a vote.

Terry Richardson, chair of the Members Advisory Group, said: "This is a significant challenge for Leicester and Leicestershire, but all councils are working together to ensure we do what is best for our local communities.

"It is important we deliver the housing and employment we need to ensure people have homes to live in and jobs.

"It is equally important that we plan that growth so it is controlled and limits the impact on our environment."

The district and borough council are currently considering the proposals individually, but have been recommended to approve them by the planning steering group overseeing the process.