Hugglescote & Donington le Heath Parish Council now has a Neighbourhood Plan that will enable it to have more input into new developments in that area.

Residents voted to have a the plan in place at this week's referendum.

The question asked at the referendum was: Do you want North West Leicestershire District Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Hugglescote & Donington le Heath to help it decide planning applications in the Neighbourhood Area?

The result was:

• Yes - 801

• No 71

Council chairman Russell Johnson has thanked all the residents who voted - and said it was a great community turnout and reflected local residents' concerns over how the parish is developing.

It is a plan that has been around four years in the making and, although led by the Parish Council, has been drawn up in consultation with local people.

The council added that without the residents' input, the plan would not be as comprehensive as it is.

The key part of the plan that it protects local green spaces.

The parish council website says that this is 'so that developers cannot take over every square inch of land that is left'.

Once the plan is formally approved by North West Leicestershire District Council, it will have legal backing and has to be taken into account by the District and County Councils when they consider planning applications.

You can find out more about the referendum HERE.

Last July, a group called CARE was set up to address the levels of house building in the areas around Coalville - with a focus on Hugglescote, Donington-Le-Heath and Ellistown.

You can read that article HERE.