A row has broken out over changes to plans for a massive development near Lutterworth South Leicestershire MP Alberto Costa has called on the government to review the decision while a councillor has resigned from his political group over the matter The multi-million pound Lutterworth East scheme was approved in 2020 to create 2,750 homes 40% of which would be ‘affordable’ Harborough District Council’s planning committee last night approved a reduction in the number to as low as 10% Richard Nunn from Lutterworth Town Council spoke at the meeting saying it will result in hundreds of fewer affordable homes: Another change approved will allow the business part of the development be built first and larger warehousing units to be included on the 550-acre site MP Alberto Costa is unhappy at the changes and has asked Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing Angela Rayner to ‘call -in’ the matter and review it a council planning officer told councillors the changes to government planning policy have not yet been implemented so they had to abide by current regulations which allowed such changes to be made who represents Lutterworth East has resigned from the Liberal Democrats over the matter branding the decisions ‘a stitch-up for Lutterworth’ The Lib Dems run the council in coalition with Labour and the Greens Leader of the opposition Conservative group spoke of his dismay at reducing the number of affordable homes: which owns the land and is behind the plan say the changes are needed amid rising construction costs and a stagnant housing market and meeting was told the development would otherwise become ‘unviable’ Planning officers said the affordable homes target would also be subject to review as the development was built and if the scheme was abandoned the district would face having to find new locations for the housing and industrial space the district council will have to wait to see if the matter is reviewed by government before the decisions can stand grants and donations to enable us to continue to provide the service Your donation would be greatly appreciated ALL CONTENT © COPYRIGHT HARBOROUGH FM 2007 – 2024 Morrisons is to close the café at its supermarket in Lutterworth It is one of over 50 eateries being shut nationwide together with dozens of meat and fish counters and 17 convenience stores The firm says most affected workers are expected to be moved into other roles The cafe will close at Morrisons in Lutterworth Morrisons say the cuts will allow for investment in ‘areas customers really value.’ said: “The changes we are announcing today are a necessary part of our plans to renew and reinvigorate Morrisons and enable us to focus our investment into the areas that customers really value and that can play a full part in our growth “Morrisons Cafés are rightly famous for their great quality well-priced food their place in the local community and their appealing mix of traditional favourites alongside exciting new dishes “In most locations the Morrisons Café has a bright future but a minority have specific local challenges and in those locations closure and re-allocation of the space is the only sensible option Free travel on offer from Monday 17 March FoxConnect has launched in Market Harborough and the surrounding district Launched by Leicestershire County Council using government funding passengers will be able to enjoy free travel until Monday 21 April 2025.   This is part of the county wide bus network review and sees the Harborough District becoming the second location to benefit from the new FoxConnect service, following the successful launch of two zones in Melton. Aided by the government’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) grant these services will support goals set out in the council’s BSIP There will be five new zones connecting rural villages in the Harborough district to the town centre Passengers will be able to travel to and from Market Harborough town centre directly from zone 4 to 7.  Somerby and Houghton on the Hill (Operated by Premier Taxis)  Oadby & Houghton on the Hill (Operated by Premier Taxis) Houghton on the Hill & Uppingham (Operated by Centrebus) Lutterworth & Countesthorpe (Operated by Centrebus) Lutterworth & Kibworth Beauchamp (Operated by Centrebus) there will be interchange points at key town centres including Uppingham Kibworth Beauchamp and a direct connection to Thurmaston Shopping Centre Leicestershire FoxConnect in Market Harborough will operate Monday to Saturday Journeys can be booked up to seven days in advance through the app or the call centre on 0116 216 7756 cabinet member for Highways and Transport said: “On-demand transport options like FoxConnect are being adopted by many councils across the country These flexible services are especially well-suited to rural areas helping to enhance transport provision and improve accessibility across Leicestershire.” “In Melton the FoxConnect service has been a great success completing over 2000 journeys in just the first month We hope that the free travel offer encourages people across the Harborough district to get on board to try the service and make it a regular part of their journeys.” “The introduction of five new zones in Harborough will increase access to public transport and encourage onward travel This will help us reach our goal for a more integrated travel system and support sustainable travel options for all.” The sustainable travel team are delivering events about the new service as follows: Any community groups, organisations or businesses who would benefit from more information can email choosehowyoumove@leics.gov.uk The call centre is open Monday to Friday between 08:30 and 16:30 More information on the service, including full list of villages served can be found on the Market Harborough FoxConnect page.  Several events are taking place to mark the historic event Around 7,100 pupils - 99.4% - secure a top three primary school preference Customers bought cars which were found to be faulty Assessments being made after issues with chimney spotted New video released gives snapshot of services provided by council Whistl is set to expand its Lutterworth site by 160,000sqft in a bid to support existing customers growth across clothing and footwear as well as small electrical appliances Through the construction of a 40,000sqft per floor mezzanine structure within the existing warehouse Whistl will grow its fulfilment capability The construction of the new mezzanine complete with automated conveyors will enable the company to process around 250,000 pick and pack items per week and the extra capacity is expected to be available from early 2025 The company is investing in the expansion of the Lutterworth site to accommodate new business opportunities as well as supporting existing customer growth Whistl has been operating in the fulfillment arena for five years and in that time has made investment through acquisition and construction of warehouse capacity across the UK said: “We are excited by the opportunity we have through this investment in extra capacity to process smaller pick pack items for customers.  It enables us to broaden our fulfilment offer and expand the sectors we can service.” Whistl recently appointed Fliss O’Hara as managing director of Whistl Fulfillment, after joining the business last year from GXO Logistics as commercial director, fulfilment. In September, the logistics firm received approval from the Science Based Targets initiative for its target to reach net-zero by 2045 Using 2022 as its base year for its calculations Whistl has committed to reducing absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 42% by 2030 It will also increase annual sourcing of renewable electricity from 85% to 100% by 2025 We deliver!Our editor picks some choice pieces from the analysis flow and sends them to your inbox every Wednesday. Dedicated research report previews will also come direct to you. Subscribe for the emails. Why not join us on Linkedin and you’ll get the best updates on our research and analysis – UK The InternetRetailing France Luxury 2025 report explores customer attitudes shopping habits and luxury retail in France Hundreds of decorated tractors will take to the streets of South Leicestershire tomorrow as the popular Archers Festive Tractor Run returns Farmers from across Harborough and further afield will join the Christmas convoy which will leave Lutterworth at 4.30pm and visit several towns and villages before returning to the town The event has raised over £150,000 for charity since launching in 2020 with crowds lining the streets to watch the tractors pass-by This year it will raise funds for Leicestershire’s LOROS Hospice Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution & The Farms Safety Foundation Organiser Ryan Archer told HFM it has become a magical event for the community: You can donate online here or alternatively text TRACTORS followed by your donation amount to 70580 Texts will cost the donation amount plus one standard network rate message The spirited nonagenarian is using her glider flight to give back to the local community By NOTICEBOARD · 5 March 2025 Fearless 90-year-old Barbara Brookes is preparing for the flight of a lifetime, after winning a glider flight courtesy of the Lutterworth Town Mayor’s charity raffle has now turned into an inspiring mission to give back to the local community the spirited nonagenarian initially suspected a scam and even gave the Mayor a piece of her mind this incredible woman is turning her surprise win into a powerful opportunity to raise funds for three organisations close to her heart and the Academy for Dementia Research and Education These organisations have provided invaluable support to her and many others in the community Barbara explained: “I’d never imagined I’d win anything let alone something as thrilling as a glider flight “Once I got over the shock - and the embarrassment - I knew I wanted to use this chance to give back to the groups that have helped me so much.” saying: “It’s not every day you meet someone as determined and inspiring as Barbara “Her story has brought a lot of joy to our community and I am thrilled to see how she is using her prize to make a difference.” Proceeds from her fundraising will go toward Age Concern Lutterworth and District which offers vital support for older residents, Lutterworth Community Transport, providing essential transport services for those in need; and the Academy for Dementia Research and Education, working to improve the lives of those affected by dementia To support her fundraising efforts, donations may be made in the Age Concern office, at “Our House” (ADRE) or via the JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/page/barbara-brookes1 Barbara’s glider flight is scheduled for May 18 and the community will be eagerly following her adventure in the skies This remarkable 90-year-old is proving that it’s never too late to make a difference - and to take on new challenges LoadingDaily Email Updates {{contentTitle}} The ad-free version is ready for purchase on iOS mobile app today we couldn't find that page";var n=e.querySelector("h2");return n&&n.remove(),{staticContent:e,title:t}},d=function(e){var t=document.createElement("button");return t.innerText=e,t.classList.add("error-page-button"),t},f=function(e){var t=document.createElement("div");t.id="recirculation-404",t.classList.add("brand-hint-bg");var n="\n \n \n Tick here if you would like us to send you the author’s response Plans to turn a former Leicestershire pub into a natural therapy centre with a cafe and a shop have been unveiled New owners say the former Cavalier Inn can become a "project for the community" as work gets underway The ex-pub, which is believed date back to the 17th century, was most recently a wood burner store and is found on the corner of George Street and Market Street in Lutterworth It has been taken over by a new company called Lutterworth Natural Health The company has posted a video of its plans for the pub online showcasing what the future holds for the historic boozer Jonathan Bennett describes what the new business will offer and also appeals for help from local people to help with the renovation of the building READ MORE: I took my kids for a sleepover at grand castle half an hour from Leicestershire — they especially loved one thing He said: "We are converting this building into Lutterworth Natural Health where you can come for natural treatments such as ozone therapy hydrotherapy and massage plus so much more Also for natural health food products at our Natural Health food shop "I also want to be able to source natural foods from local farmers I'm a great believer in supporting local farmers There will be a natural cafe where it's vegetarian and plant-based A place where you can come and relax - maybe before your treatments or after your treatments - and be able to experience and rejuvenate your health." He invited people to stop in while the renovation work was taking place and also appealed for any builders plumbers and electricians who could offer advice to stop by He said: "This is a project for the community A project where we want to be able to help people as they come by And if you've got some time on your hands and you want to come by and help with the renovation work or even you might be a builder or a plumber or an electrician and you might want to offer some help "And that might be as simple as a bit of guidance If you see the door's open just come on in." According to the website of the Leicestershire Fieldworkers, which includes archaeological groups around the county, the pub dates back to about 1600 although the timber facade is only about 125 years old Between 1811 and 1939 the alehouse hosted the annual show of the Lutterworth Gooseberry Society and in the 1850s and 1860s it also hosted the annual dinner of Lutterworth Cricket Club Richard Sansome's brood of hens reportedly produced a four-legged chicken We are now bringing you the latest updates on WhatsApp first Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right Lutterworth’s Olympic champion Lauren Henry has been awarded an MBE in the King’s New Year’s Honours The 23-year-old has been recognised for services to rowing after being part of the women’s quadruple sculls team who won gold at the Paris Games last year Lauren joined Leicester Rowing Club at the age of 13 and worked her way through the junior and U23 ranks before getting gold medals in European and World Championship events The MBE comes after Harborough District Council agreed to grant Lauren the ‘Freedom Of The District’ following her fantastic performance Richard Price from Hallaton was also named on the list and given an MBE for services to fashion He has over 20 years of experience with the UK’s three biggest clothing retailers – and since 2020 has been managing director of Marks and Spencer was awarded an MBE for services to Palliative care Retail technology news and views for omnichannel retailers Epson has opened a new innovation centre in Lutterworth Leicestershire, including the launch of its first ever Textile Academy a platform to inspire young people to contribute to a better An award for the design with the greatest creativity was given to Katy Harvey in the form of a SureColor F100 dye-sublimation printer.   She says: “I learned about the different options for starting my own business or building my career through a company It was also really great to see how my designs could work across such a wide range of items Winning the competition for best design was really flattering and I look forward to trying out my new (dye-sub) printer at home.”  Students also underwent a business workshop where they were given insight into commercialising textile printing with Phil McMullin (Head of Sales for large format print at Epson) Oliver Mustoe-Playfair (Co-founder at Prinfab) Taran Rai (Sustainability Manager at Epson) and Polly Chapman (Marketing Manager at Epson). In a series of presentations students heard from experts in the world of textiles about the challenges and environmental implications of printing in fashion who talked about the environmental implications of printing in fashion and Epson’s role in co-creating sustainability with its digital technologies.  Rai comments: “The fashion sector receives a large spotlight in terms of its environmental footprint and today was a great chance to educate students on what this looks like Epson has recently conducted research quantifying the water waste attributed to UK and European wardrobes through imported and it’s great to highlight the reduced impact of on-demand comments: “Educating and inspiring students about the opportunities offered by digital textile printing is not only key to future-proofing our industry but also to reducing the water waste and CO2e of the fashion industry Marrying their creativity with our technology is an exciting prospect and it’s an absolute pleasure to see students take such an interest in textile printing as they embark on the next chapter of their lives.”  Sustainability will be a key focus area at the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world said: “The event is now into its sixth year and what a journey it has been The awards started life as an online only affair during the Covid outbreak before launching as a small scale in real life event and growing year on year to the point where we’re now selling out this fine He added: “Congratulations to all of our finalists Many submissions did not make it through to the final stage We’ve got all the cool stuff covered this evening.” “But just importantly we’ve got lots of great examples of companies taking innovative tech and making it usable in everyday operations - resulting in more efficiency and profitability in all areas.” and all those who attended November's gathering.  For further information on the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards please fill in the below form and we will get back to you asap Sign up with your email address to receive the daily RTIH newsletter straight to your inbox We respect your privacy and will not pass your email address on to third parties we will occasionally send you promotional messages on behalf of our advertisers or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of Paxton Media Ltd Real estate developer and operator GLP has appointed Winvic Construction to build MPN 761 a 761,000ft² logistics facility at Magna Park Lutterworth in Leicestershire Winvic has been contracted to deliver the unit with Net Zero Carbon requirements BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ certification and an EPC ‘A’ rating The building is set to have an 18m clear height to haunch and comprises a 716,662ft² warehouse a 1,615ft² plant deck and 34,667ft² of space across a three-storey office and two transport offices commented: “MPN 761 has become a special project for three reasons; it marks Winvic’s construction of 100 million ft² of industrial space it’s GLP’s largest-ever speculative unit and it has brought the start of a new and exciting contractor-client relationship “I’d like to thank GLP for appreciating our industrial sector expertise and ESG credentials and for appointing us on this next phase at Magna Park The premier and historic logistics developer is widely acclaimed within the industry for setting new standards in terms of design occupier efficiency and local job creation and we’re proud to now be a part of the Magna Park story “The team is looking forward to progressing safely through the programme and have their sights set on completion in June 2025.” added: “We are pleased to be partnering with Winvic to deliver MPN 761 as we embark upon the next important phase of development at Magna Park North This is a testament to our confidence in the resilience of the UK logistics market and the strategic importance of the Midlands in particular “Winvic possess an impressive track record within the industrial sector and we are pleased to welcome their expertise to our supply chain as we deliver a best-in-class mega distribution unit with occupier demand technological advancements and environmental social and governance principles at its core.” Logistics Manager recently paid a visit to GLP’s Magna Park Lutterworth to learn about what’s being done on-site in terms of ESG and renewable energy at modern logistics facilities Keep an eye out for a property feature in the September issue of Logistics Manager to find out more James McLoughlin is the editor of Logistics Manager With a Journalism degree from the University of Leeds he brings experience in producing multimedia news content on a wide range of topics writing and editing content for Logistics Manager Beyond leading the production of monthly magazines and producing daily website content James has hosted webinars and awards ceremonies and engages with numerous in-person events hosted by Logistics Manager and Akabo Media.