Whetstone Pastures
Overview
Whetstone Pastures is a proposed new village in the south of Blaby District. Promoted by local landowners and supported by Tritax Big Box (formerly Tritax Symmetry), Whetstone Pastures is a Garden Village development with the potential to accommodate thousands of new homes and jobs. The Council’s engagement extends to the further assessment of the scheme in parallel to the local plan process. The site does not currently have any status in the adopted Local Plan, nor has a planning application been received for the site.
Whilst it is recognised by the Council that the principle of the development has not been established, it is considered important to take every opportunity to influence the development during these important early stages to ensure that any allocation will deliver the best possible scheme. As such, any input is provided independently of the Local Plan review that is currently taking place.
The proposed Garden Village covers 377 hectares and is currently predicted to include the following:
- 4,000 – 5,000 new homes
- 370,000 square metres of logistics warehousing
- New motorway junction on the M1
- Primary and secondary schools
- 2 local centres and a district centre
- Shops and services
- Networks of cycling and walking routes
- Public open space and play areas
- A community centre
Whetstone Pastures is currently farmland that lies south of the existing village of Countesthorpe, southeast of Cosby, east of Broughton Astley and northwest of Willoughby Waterleys. The proposals cover land on both sides of the M1 motorway.
Whetstone Pastures does not currently have any status in the adopted Local Plan or in the emerging Local Plan that the Council is currently working on.
The emerging Local Plan is assessing the merits of the site as one of a number of options to deliver development in the District during the next local plan period.
Whetstone Pastures was accepted into the Garden Communities Programme in 2018 and the Garden Community principles are now a fundamental part this project. The programme has unlocked additional support and resources from Homes England. This has enabled the Council to work with Tritax Big Box and other stakeholders on a range of topics from masterplanning to long term stewardship.
Proposals are being considered by the Strategic Growth team to ensure that, if the site was to be considered an acceptable allocation in the emerging Local Plan, any scheme that comes forward would offer the highest quality sustainable outcome for existing residents of the District and future residents of the development itself.