At a meeting on 30th July, the Local Plan Committee discussed the safeguard for HS2 being lifted.

On 18th July, local MP Amanda Hack welcomed the news that areas of land in Ashby would no longer be under planning restrictions due to safeguarding land for HS2.

This was followed by a call from the North West Labour Group for the Local Plan Committee to remove the land at Packington Nook from the plan.

According to the Labour Group, 'the original rationale for allocating nearly 1,100 homes at Packington Nook was based on a perceived shortfall of suitable land, largely due to the HS2 restrictions.' 

Last night (30th July), the Local Plan Committee voted to remove the land at Packington Nook as a reserve site.

Speaking about this meeting, Dave Bigby, ward member for Ashby Willesley, in which Packington Nook is located, said: 'Last night's Local Plan confirmed what the Labour Group has long been calling for, the removal of Packington Nook from the reserve list.

'Ashby has taken more than its fair share of large housing developments over the past decade, so I am pleased we've been able to protect this site.

'I'd also like to recognise the hard work of our local MP, Amanda Hack, in lifting the HS2 safeguarding. That step was key in making this possible and in removing the uncertainty surrounding the Local Plan. This now gives councillors the flexibility they need to move forward with greater confidence.'

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Councillor Dave Bigby celebrates the removal of Packington Nook from the Local Plan (Photo: Ashby Labour Group)

Town and District Councillor Kenny Horn said: 'The Local Plan Committee met last night and voted overwhelmingly to remove Packington Nook as a reserve site. This is welcome news for the people of Castle and Willesley Wards, and for the wider Ashby community.

'Ashby has seen enough expansion over recent years. The decision goes some way to protect an important green space and provides soe security for one of the towns local sports facilities.

'North West Leicestershire District Council Officers can now focus on building a robust local plan that can be defended at the inquiry and counter any attempt to reverse the decision by disappointed developers.

'The plans to develop the area received 141 objections with the majority from local residents. Special thanks to the local campaign groups for all their work, to Councillor Bigby and to the North West Leicestershire MP for the work she has done to have the HS2 safeguard released.

'There is still work to do to mitigate the impact of the smaller Ashby sites included in the local plan, but the decision last night will hopefully go some way to protect our much loved market town from further, unnecessary expansion.'