1100 Homes Proposed for South East Syston
Taylor Wimpey (TW) have put forward a proposal for 1100 homes adjacent to the South East Side of Syston, an increase from the original proposal of 960 homes.
They held an open meeting for residents on Thursday 25h September in the Community centre.
Around 200 people visited the event to see the proposal and give feedback to Taylor Wimpey, about the main concerns of residents.
These were as follows:
Flooding. Syston has been flooded three times within sixteen months between October 2023 and January 2025 with increasing number of homes being affected each time. The illustrations showed some Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) across the proposed development along with open spaces, a primary school and sports fields.
However, it was pointed out to TW that the existing SuDS, one behind St Hilda’s and the other behind the Blackfriars development haven’t been maintained and contributed to the floods in Syston. So residents are anxious that this size of development with only add to the problem, as one resident said each of these properties have at least two bathrooms, which will flow into a drainage system that didn’t cope during the recent floods, causing sewerage to go through some of those homes that were flooded. It isn’t acceptable to put additional pressure on a drainage system that wasn’t built for such large developments.
Traffic. Another concern raised was the volume of traffic coming from the development. If 1,100 homes are built then there will probably be around 2,200 cars on roads through Syston that are already at capacity. Residents who live on Goodes Lane stated that currently they have difficulty exiting their drives during school drop off in the morning and pick up times in the afternoon as the traffic tails back from Melton Road as far back as Beech Drive. They said if a road is linked with the end of St Paul’s Drive, then cars will tail back up that road, taking away the quiet nature of that street and increase in pollution. A comment from TW was that they propose a bus route for the development, but as another resident said, “that’s ok initially but once the money for that bus comes to an end, the bus will be removed, so it is not a long term practical solution”.
There is another road proposed to leave the development across Barkby Lane and join the road near the Duckpond junction, this will increase the amount of traffic in this area from Thorpebury in the Limes as well, again causing problems in congestion going down to the roundabout on the A607 at the Thurmaston retail park.
Again an area that is barely coping with the current traffic.
Barkby Parish Council have objected to this aspect of the design too, we will print their article in the next issue.
Health Provision – Another concern raised was the lack of provision for health care. Syston’s Health Centre covers not just Syston, but the surrounding villages including Queniborough, Barkby, East Goscote and Rearsby, plus other villages around the Town. With the increase of building other than this proposal it is putting pressure on the existing Health services including dentists. The Health Centre itself is stretched with some residents not able to get an appointment. There is no provision on the plan for any of these services and when asked TW said there would be a doctors in the Thorpebury development. Although a primary school is proposed, what about post 11 education? There is no mention of a school for this age.
Farmland – The other major concern is that this development will be built on productive farmland, and in our current climate we need to be able to feed our nation, so using productive farmland for housing doesn’t seem to be the right way to go. It’s no good having homes if we can’t feed those families and existing ones in the area. The use of productive farmland should be exempt for large developments like this one.
Size of Properties – The size of the homes proposed was questioned at the meeting. Locally we have a huge stock of four and five bedroomed homes. But have a shortage of affordable housing with two and three bedroom homes, suitable for young people getting on the housing market and young families. How can the younger generation get on the property ladder without having small enough starter homes to account for this. Also appropriate sized homes for older people wishing to downsize.
Power – The use of all electric powered homes with limited solar panels, to supply a four bedroom house, as illustrated at the event with power, it is necessary to have around 12/14 solar panels, only six were illustrated and no battery, which is necessary to help reduce usage from the National Grid and even pay the occupier for spare power, without a battery any power generated by the solar panels will go straight to the grid with no benefit to the owner. There was an air source heat pump, but no provision of an alternative source of power, it is fully reliant on electricity, which is ok if there is isn’t a power cut. Syston suffered a few power cuts last winter, which implies that the national grid isn’t able to cope with the current housing locally, so why put more pressure on a system that appears unable to cope by putting more pressure on it. Thus causing problems for the existing town and its residents.
Without major investment into the existing services of water, drainage, power supply, then developing around this area, should be put on hold until such time as these services are improved.
TW presented this development as land owned by Merton College Oxford since 1271 when it acquired it from Robert de Percy and that they have a long history of sustainable and responsible stewardship.
Residents feel that this is not a responsible or sustainable development. It is the size of a village but without the amenities and is putting excessive reliance on the existing small town of Syston, which doesn’t show a responsible approach to the housing needs locally.
Although this event was for feedback to TW and the online feedback has now ended.
It is important that you comment on this proposal when it has been submitted to Charnwood Borough Council for planning, which is believed to be around the end of November 2025.
