A mega plan for 10,000 new homes at the edge of a peaceful Leicestershire village has emerged, but opponents have branded the proposals "madness". 

The vision from developer Nurton Developments would see 700 hectares of land at the edge of Norton Juxta Twycross, close to Twycross Zoo, taken over to create three "connected villages" developed in a community styled as "Norton Heath". 

Space would also be set aside for schools, sports and leisure facilities, and shops through local centres, plans reveal.

The possible development is still in the early stages, with the site having been added to the latest draft of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council's (HBBC) Local Plan.

Map of proposed development in relation to surrounding area by Nurton Developments

A local plan is a document which sets out where building can take place in an area, and is intended to protect communities from uncontrolled building. 

The news has been met with dismay by local residents, with one branding it a "huge invasion" of the local area and a second person slamming it as "madness beyond".

Concerns have been raised over the potential infrastructure impacts of such a large number of new homes in the area, with fears about how it will affect roads and schools, as well as the loss of fields to construction work. 

One commenter said: "I used to live in Norton Juxta Twycross so I do have a bit of insight into the ridiculousness of this idea. I also have a lot of friends who still live there and am heartbroken for them if it goes through. 

"The road I lived on is barely wide enough for two cars to pass each other, there is very little parking throughout the village, partly because of the narrow roads. The primary school that is catchment for much of this is already at capacity on most classes […] 

"The people who live there, some of whom have lived there their whole lives must be devastated that it is even being suggested. I haven't even touched on the environmental aspects of this, the habitats lost, the lovely walks across fields gone." 

A website set up to promote the plan reveals that the new homes would be built over a 40-year period. By 2045, around 2,750 of the properties would be delivered. 

The majority of these would sit on land within Hinckley and Bosworth borough. However, part of the site also falls within neighbouring North West Leicestershire district, and 500 of the new homes would be built within that district in the first phase of the scheme. 

From 2045, a further 5,250 homes would be built within Hinckley and Bosworth borough, and a further 2,000 in North West Leicestershire. Over the two phases, 32 hectares of employment land would also be delivered. 

Around half of the 700 hectare site would be retained as parkland, the website states. While the site appears within HBBC's draft local plan, which is currently out for consultation with residents, it is not yet included in North West Leicestershire District Council's development plans. 

Nurton Developments said Leicestershire was "great county" which boasted "historic market towns, rural villages, open countryside and a rich industrial heritage", but warned the area also faced "big housing challenges". It claimed there was a "shortage of properties", meaning young people were "often unable to buy or rent a home". 

It added: "At the same time, there's a need to improve transport connections for villages, deliver new schools, healthcare facilities and create accessible public open space for healthy living. Norton Heath can help Leicestershire meet these housing and social infrastructure needs." 

Residents are able to have their say on the latest draft of the HBBC local plan until Friday 28 November.