Developer Sought for 525 New Homes in Leicester Project

Leicester City Council is actively seeking a developer for the construction of hundreds of new residences. This initiative forms part of a larger council-spearheaded project in Leicester, which aims to deliver 3,000 homes. The council holds the primary ownership and promotional rights for the 320-acre greenfield parcel of land known as Ashton Green, situated close to Beaumont Leys. The council stated that this “ambitious housing-led mixed use development scheme” has now reached its fourth phase, which involves constructing up to 525 new homes across 55 acres. The council further indicated that the chosen developer is expected to commence building activities by late 2026. The initial phase of the Ashton Green development, which occupies an area comparable to approximately 181 football pitches, saw 100 houses completed by Morris Homes in 2020, as reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service. A subsequent second phase, comprising 307 homes, is presently under construction by Tilia Homes, with 130 of these already finished and inhabited. The city council announced that the third phase is anticipated to begin next year, with Morris Homes undertaking the construction of 440 new dwellings. Approximately 13 acres of the land designated for this extensive development are under the ownership of the Diocese of Leicester. Sir Peter Soulsby, the city mayor, commented on a “growing and urgent need” for additional housing within the city over the coming 10 to 15 years. He stated, “This is an extremely ambitious and complex project and I am proud that we are now ready to enter a next phase of development.” He added that this effort “would help bring the total number of new homes built or in the process of being built at Ashton Green close to 1,400.” The city council indicated that the urban development initiative is designed to establish a community featuring up to 3,000 new residences, alongside provisions for community and health facilities, areas for employment, and retail spaces. The authority also specified that as many as 30% of the new homes constructed at Ashton Green would be designated as affordable housing, available for both rent and shared ownership. The deadline for submitting bids is set for 13 December.