FAQs

An outline planning application establishes the principle of development on a site. If permission is granted, the detailed design would then be agreed with NWLDC and other stakeholders, including the community, as part of subsequent reserved matters applications. These reserved matters applications will set out the details of the development, such as building heights, design, and materials.

The NWLDC is required to bring forward sites to meet the district’s local housing need, which is calculated based on housing demand and population statistics by the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government.  

As set out in the emerging NWLDC Local Plan, there has been a significant increase in local housing needs and the annual housing target for the Council to meet has now increased to 617 dwellings. 

In the NWLDC Local Plan from 2017, Castle Donington was identified as a Key Service Centre. This recognises the town’s important role in offering homes, jobs and shops for its residents and the wider surrounding communities of northwest Leicestershire. Being closely situated to strategic locations such as the East Midlands Airport, the East Midlands Gateway and the new Freeport, Castle Donington is well-positioned to support significant development and employment demand. 

Around 30% of the new homes will be provided as affordable homes, which is compliant with NWLDC’s local policies and will contribute to meeting local needs.

The exact location of both these facilities has not yet been decided. The project team is carefully considering various areas within the development through the masterplanning process to determine the best sites for the school and the local centre. The project team welcome insight from the community to help guide these decisions, so it can meet the needs of both the current and future families in Castle Donington.  

There will not be a new secondary school built on this site. However, the project team will make contributions to support the existing Castle Donington College.

In March 2025, NWLDC identified the parcel of land to the south-west of the roundabout (Reference CD9) with a capacity of approximately 35 homes to help meet the residual housing shortfall. CD9 is not part of this planning application.

Vehicles will be able to access the site from Park Lane, which will be widened between the bypass and the main site access. 

The Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Request has recently been submitted to NWLDC. The EIA Scoping process seeks to agree which key environmental topics, including landscape and visual impact, heritage, air quality, noise and vibration, should be assessed within the Environmental Statement, which will also be submitted as part of the planning application, to ensure that the proposals are developed both responsibly and sustainably.