Over 400 residents from Lutterworth and surrounding villages attended a public meeting on Friday 15th August 2025 hosted by South Leicestershire MP Alberto Costa, with hundreds more watching online.
The meeting, held at Lutterworth College, was so well attended that an overflow space had to be organised to accommodate demand. The event was also broadcast live on Facebook, and can still be viewed in full on Mr Costa’s page: https://www.facebook.com/AlbertoCostaMP/videos/744185064896581
The meeting began with Mr Costa outlining the major proposed developments in the area before moving to a Q&A session. Residents heard about plans that could significantly change the character of Lutterworth and nearby villages – including increased air pollution, more HGV traffic, and the loss of prime agricultural land.
Mr Costa expressed concerns over major proposals: the enormous quarry near Misterton, the Lutterworth East development, and changes to affordable housing and warehousing conditions associated with the 2,750 home scheme.
He also raised questions about governance and accountability, noting in particular that Leicestershire County Council is both the developer of Lutterworth East and the minerals authority responsible for deciding on the nearby quarry application, with potential for a conflict of interest.
While Mr Costa thanked the district and county councillors who did attend and take part in the Q&A: Cllr David Gair (HDC), Cllr Jon Bateman (HDC), Cllr Jim Knight (HDC), and Cllr Bill Biper (LCC), he shared residents’ disappointment that the leadership of Harborough District Council and Leicestershire County Council declined the invitation to attend.
Mr Costa reminded residents that while he does not hold decision-making powers over these developments, it is his duty to scrutinise local public bodies. He encouraged residents to use Freedom of Information requests to seek transparency from the County Council and invited them to sign a petition calling for government intervention on the overdevelopment of the area.
Mr Costa said on overdevelopment:
“I have always supported appropriate housing and commercial development, but what we are seeing in South Leicestershire is gross over-development. The expansion of Magna Park and now a new logistics park to the east of Lutterworth (in direct breach of the local plan) is simply not fair on residents. People deserve to trust that planning authorities will follow their own rules.”
Mr Costa continued:
“When planning permission was granted for 2,750 homes at Lutterworth East, it came with the condition that 40% would be affordable. Just two years later, Harborough District Council reduced that to 10%. That is a betrayal of local residents and of national promises to deliver more affordable housing. We cannot allow developers to secure permission and then quietly water down their commitments.”
On transparency and accountability, Mr Costa said:
“Local people need planning authorities they can trust. Public officials, both councillors and officers, must act in line with the Nolan Principles. If a council signs off on a local plan, it should stick to it.”
