Town centre redevelopment scheme divides opinions

A £2m plan to redevelop part of a town in Leicestershire has divided opinion, with some calling it a "waste of money".

Last year, North West Leicestershire District Council announced plans to develop land around Stenson House in Coalville into 38 homes and a public garden, having demolished its former office building.

The plan would see much of the land opposite London Road turned into a more "vibrant space" with gardens, trees and plants located around the land, and the existing Stenson House building retained for weddings and council meetings.

Cash generated from selling part of the site for housing is expected to make up the cost of the scheme.

However, recent public feedback showed residents are split over the proposals, with 48% of 100 respondents supporting a makeover and 49% opposing it, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The survey found 52% of respondents were opposed to building homes on the land, with concerns about parking and anti-social behaviour, and expressed a need for social and affordable housing.

People said they felt the current area looked "abandoned" and "unused", but others also "liked" the area, saying it had "meaning and history", while praising the parking and current green space.

On the planned garden, many said the proposals would help create "good quality areas of open space" they felt were currently "lacking in the town".

However, other respondents said they felt it was a "waste of money" and feared it would allow for anti-social behaviour and vandalism.

In response to the survey, the council warned that without the housing, it would not be able to go ahead with the Stenson Gardens redevelopment.

It also said that expanding parking options "too far" would make the plan "financially unviable".

Plans to gate off the area, which the council said would make it "unaffordable", were also rejected.

Councillors confirmed that the next steps would include looking for a contractor willing to undertake the work.

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