Ashby de la Zouch Town Council says it has 'substantial concerns' over plans to build the next phase of 975 houses at the Money Hill site.

In a highly critical report, the council says the latest plans are 'misleading and vague'.

Phase One, consisting of more than 600 new homes, has already started.

But now, developers Bloor Homes and Taylor Wimpey have submitted plans for Phase Two.

The outline planning application has already been delayed as a traffic impact statement is being prepared.

But now Ashby Town Council has listed its 'major concerns' - which will be discussed further at Monday's planning committee meeting.

These include inadequate measures towards reducing traffic congestion and encouraging walking and cycling, and a lack of commitment to strengthening the town's community services, facilities and infrastructure.

Building at the Nottingham Road site is well under way

The council says: "The applicant has not adequately addressed the significant impact this application will have on Ashby de la Zouch, its people and infrastructure;

"The application is not consistent with the agreed masterplan for the whole site; There are changes from the agreed number of dwellings and allocation of employment land;

"The application does not conform to the relevant policies in the NWLDC Local Plan and the Ashby de la Zouch Neighbourhood Plan; The Traffic Impact Assessment has not been provided;

"There are no comprehensive commitments to funding enhanced safe cycling and walking routes, encouraging active travel and reducing traffic congestion and suggestions that have been made are inadequate;

"There are inadequate commitments to strengthening the Town's community services and infrastructure - education, health, police, sport etc;

Ashby Town Council's planning committee will discuss the issues at Monday's meeting

"There is no commitment to providing a community facility within the overall development;

"Because of the inadequacy of the information provided, the Town Council in this response reserves the right for further responses as and when additional information becomes available. The Town Council will also respond in due time with requests for S106 monies in line with national guidelines.

"This development alone will increase the number of dwellings in Ashby de la Zouch by around 15 per cent and, when considered with the rest of the Money Hill site, including Arla Dairy, the increase will be around 30 per cent. 

"This development will generate substantial additional congestion around the town and significant additional demand for community infrastructure and services provided by the Town Council and other service providers."

How the homes are likley to look when completed. Image: Bloor/Taylor Wimpey

It adds: "The application is extremely vague in terms of commitments to provide onsite and offsite infrastructure. It also contains many errors and contradictions, including showing the wrong version of the approved whole site masterplan, which is highly misleading, and implying that modifications have been agreed when they have not.

The Money Hill junction with the A511 has had its critics

"Furthermore, the coherence and interconnectivity of the whole Money Hill site has been compromised by the failure of this application to cover the whole of the remaining site."

It also emphasises the need to establish S106 payments - which are contributions from the developers towards improving facilities in the area.

The council says: "Ashby town centre requires further investment in order to meet the needs of the increased population and to remain competitive and attractive as a shopping and entertainment hub for our community. 

"The Town Council will be submitting a detailed list of potential and ongoing projects which would benefit from developer funding. It will also be requesting contributions to a Community Fund to be used to promote inclusive community-focused projects around Ashby."

The council also raises concerns over congestion at existing junctions close to the A42 and A511.

It adds: "Modifications will be required to the Nottingham Road/Tesco/ Wickes access junction to prevent even further congestion generated by traffic to and from the site.

"Without adequate mitigation, the additional housing is bound to significantly increase congestion along the A511 corridor between Burton upon Trent and Markfield, particularly at the Tesco and A42 roundabouts. These junctions are already way beyond their design capacity."