Message from Dr Luke Evans MP

SINCE I BECAME your MP in December 2019 my office has opened and worked on over 22,000 cases. One of the issues I’m contacted most frequently about is planning. But as an MP I have no say over local decisions, only national policy and framework.

Our area is a desirable place to live. We have beautiful rural countryside, excellent local transport routes, schools and amenities and are close to the city of Leicester. But the issue our community faces in this regard is that, without an up-to-date Local Plan –which is the job of the local Borough Council – we will continue to have a piecemeal approach to planning, which is open season for developers.

Because of these speculative developments we now have huge problems to solve in providing the infrastructure, amenities and services we need. Multiple groups across our area – including the phenomenal efforts of a hard working group right here in Markfield – have been instrumental in creating Neighbourhood Plans. These are important tools which enable the community to decide where new housing should go. But at crux of it, without an up-to-date Local Plan from the Borough Council, they’re being ridden roughshod over. I’ve been calling for stronger protections for these plans and hope to see the necessary policy improvements in upcoming legislation.

By now you’re probably wondering who is accountable for what when it comes to planning. Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council implement and update the Local Plan, decide applications and enforce against breaches. Leicestershire County Council assist with infrastructure. The Government sets national planning policy and puts in place a decision making framework for the Councils.

Member of Parliament for Bosworth • House of Commons

• London • SW1A 0AA w: drlukeevans.org.uk t: constituency: 01455 635741 parliament: 0207 219 4250 m: 07920 619812 twitter: @drlukeevans instagram:

I was very pleased to see the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill brings forward two big changes that will ease the current pressure our area is facing.

On the floor of the Chamber the Planning Minister confirmed to me that that the duty to co-operate and accommodate housing overspill – which would have forced thousands of additional homes onto Hinckley and Bosworth – will be replaced with a less onerous requirement.

Secondly, Local Authorities will have the power to decline to determine applications from developers who land bank. This is where they buy a plot of land, obtain planning permission but fail to build at a reasonable rate.

What I believe is simple: we need the right homes in the right places, with the right infrastructure and protections for our heritage and environment. There is undoubtedly a need for more housing in the UK, but it’s got to be done in the right way. We all want to see our sons and daughters own their own home and grandma and grandpa to have the right kind of house to downsize to. The key thing is, it must be right for our community.

New management for the Colliery Cafe in Coalville

AS REPORTED in the Leicester Mercury, Coalville’s Colliery Cafe has new management.

The cafe, which sits at the heart of the revamped Colliery Park, opened in December 2020 and despite being affected by the pandemic, quickly became a popular attraction in town. The site sits next to the town’s Century Theatre - which has now been saved from the ‘At Risk’ register - and Snibston nature trail and helped secure the park a coveted Green Flag award in 2021. The site now has new managers, Grounds Cafe, who already have experience in the county, having run Hicks Lodge cafe, in neighbouring Ashby.

forget: Tell them you saw their advert here!