Parker Strategic Land is a family-owned company that promotes and develops land. It is working with a team of independent specialists in planning, design, transport, landscape, ecology, heritage and drainage.

The land is allocated for housing in Leicester City Council’s Local Plan, which was formally adopted in June 2026 (Policy SL04). Although it sits beside Thurcaston, which is in Charnwood, the site itself is within the Leicester city boundary, where there is a need for new homes. It is close to the new Ashton Green neighbourhood on the other side of the A46.

The Local Plan identifies the site for around 420 homes. Since then we have carried out further technical work which shows the site can accommodate more homes while still having a large amount of open space (around 45% of the site). Making good use of allocated land means less pressure to build elsewhere. The number will be tested by the council during the planning process.

Although the site sits next to Thurcaston in Charnwood, it is within the Leicester city boundary and has been allocated for housing in Leicester's adopted Local Plan to help meet the city's housing need. Leicester City Council has identified a need for around 20,730 homes over the plan period, equivalent to approximately 1,296 homes per year. Leicester has historically faced challenges accommodating all of its housing needs within its tightly constrained administrative boundary, meaning that housing growth has needed to be planned both within the city and, where appropriate, in neighbouring areas.

Other large developments nearby, such as Broadnook (land north of Birstall, with permission for 1,950 homes) and Ashton Green (up to 3,000 homes), form part of this wider planned pattern of growth around north Leicester.

The Former Rectory application is a separate planning application, submitted to Charnwood Borough Council for up to 19 homes on land off Anstey Lane to the north-west of this site. While this application was also made by Parkers Strategic Land, it is being considered independently through a separate planning process and does not form part of the current proposals.

That said, both schemes have been developed with an understanding of the surrounding area and have been designed to sit comfortably alongside one another, ensuring a coordinated approach to movement, landscape and the character of future development in this part of north Leicester.

The site is within the Leicester City boundary, is allocated in the adopted Local Plan, and is designed as a distinct new neighbourhood with almost half of the land given over to green space, including a village green, allotments and parkland that Thurcaston does not have today. More people living here would also help to support the village school, pubs and small businesses.

In July 2026 the Government decided that from 1st April 2028 services across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland will be delivered by two new councils, one of which will be an enlarged Leicester council covering parts of Charnwood. However, in September 2026, these proposals were paused by the government, and we are still awaiting to hear an update on how LGR will impact this area.

Currently, we understand that Thurcaston and Cropston are still expected to fall within the enlarged Leicester area.

This does not change the planning position for these proposals. The site is already in Leicester, the allocation in the adopted Local Plan stands and the application will be made to Leicester City Council. Services continue as now until the changes take effect.

Affordable housing will be provided in line with Leicester City Council’s policy, which expects 30% of homes to be affordable. The proportion and types will be confirmed in a subsequent reserved matters application.

The A46, a significant physical boundary, already separates the site from Ashton Green to the south. Our proposals keep the existing hedgerows, mature trees and woodland, add substantial new planting along the A46 and on the edge of the village, and place lower-density homes and extra planting at the western end of the site by Anstey Lane. The aim is for a landscaped, green edge that keeps a clear sense of place for Thurcaston.

There are no heritage assets on the site. A specialist heritage assessment found that the Conservation Area and the listed Thurcaston Grange have low sensitivity to the proposals, in part because of the existing screening. Landscaping, planting and the placement of homes are used to limit any impact further.

The site is in Flood Zone 1, the lowest flood risk category. A stream crosses the east of the site, and surface water will be managed using natural drainage features, designed with an allowance for climate change, to make sure the development does not increase flood risk elsewhere.

Through a mix of distance, a planted landscape bank, careful layout so gardens are sheltered, and building design. A full noise assessment will be submitted with the application.

No school is proposed on the site.

Richard Hill CE Primary School in Thurcaston currently has around 90 pupils against a capacity of 210, meaning there are spare places available. As the local education authority, Leicestershire County Council is responsible for planning school places and assessing whether additional education provision is required to support new development. Based on current capacity and forecasts, a new primary school is not required at this location. New families moving into the development would also help to support the long-term sustainability of local village services, including the primary school.

More widely, education planning for growth in north Leicester is being considered across a number of developments. Ashton Green's education strategy relies on expanding Glebelands Primary School rather than delivering a new primary school, reflecting forecasts that indicate spare primary school capacity across the area.

A secondary school is proposed as part of the Ashton Green development to help meet future demand for older pupils.

We will continue to engage with the local education authority and, should additional education contributions be identified through the planning process, these will be considered in the usual way.

A Construction Management Plan, agreed with the council before any work starts, will set out how traffic, noise, dust, working hours and site safety are managed.

We expect to submit the outline planning application before the end of the year. All feedback received by Sunday 8th November will be considered by the team, and a summary of what we heard and how it has influenced the plans will be included in the application.