Up to 2,500 jobs could be created at a vast housing development which has just gained planning permission next to the M1 in Leicestershire.
Leicestershire County Council wants to build 2,750 homes at what it is calling Lutterworth East - a 556-acre site on green fields on the other side of the motorway to the town.
Harborough District Council’s planning committee voted through the plans despite fierce opposition from residents.
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It could see a new village centre and two new primary schools built alongside warehousing and office space and parks and sports ground.
County Hall, which stands to make tens of millions of pounds by selling the land to housebuilders, says the scheme could create some 2,500 jobs and that 40 per cent of the new homes would be affordable.
However there were more than 130 objections - many of which focused on a new access road.
Lutterworth Town Council had argued that a scheme so large should have been used to create a bypass for the town and because that had not happened it was a missed opportunity to solve town centre congestion and air pollution issues.
It also said the spine road, which was dealt a blow when a bid for £31 million of Government cash was rejected , should run alongside the motorway as a barrier between it and the new homes to improve the quality of lives of those people who will live in them.
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The town council also questioned the need for more warehousing in the area and was concerned that earlier plans to include a doctors surgery in the new development had been dropped in favour of improving facilities at the existing Lutterworth Health Centre with a £1 million contribution from the county council.
However after a three-hour debate, the planning committee opted to approve the homes and the road.
Leader of Harborough District Council Phil King said: “This key development of the Local Plan will not only provide extensive open space, it will also provide homes to benefit local families and, with 40 per cent of homes being affordable, it will help those struggling to find a place to live.
“It will create jobs locally so people can work close to where they live, and it will deliver off-site improvements to sport and recreational facilities in the area. Importantly, traffic modelling shows that the new spine road will result in a significant reduction in traffic through Lutterworth town centre.”
County Hall’s cabinet member for property Byron Rhodes said: “I welcome the committee’s decision.
“There is much demand for new homes and this scheme locates them in the right place with the right community facilities.
“Sustainable design, community and life-long living are at the heart of our plans. And from first-time buyers and families to people looking for retirement living, the development would offer a broad range of high-quality houses, including around 1,100 affordable homes.
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“We’re a responsible developer – and a green council – and the plan also incorporates a wide range of features designed to maximise renewable energy and support low-carbon living, underlining our commitment to tackling climate change.
“We’ll now consider how we want to progress the scheme, including funding options for the spine road.”
Around 1,260 of the new homes are expected to be built by 2031 and the rest up to 2037.