Dr Luke Evans, Member of Parliament for Hinckley and Bosworth, said “I’m pleased that Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council has recognised this part of its proposed Local Plan was not fit for purpose and has removed it.

"Residents raised serious concerns with me about the proposed 10,000-home development near Norton-juxta-Twycross, from its scale to the loss of farmland and the pressure it would place on already stretched rural roads and infrastructure.

" I shared those concerns and raised them directly with the Council, challenging the process and making sure our community’s voice was properly heard.

"This is a significant step and reflects both the strength of local feeling and the weight of the concerns raised.

"However, this situation highlights the wider issue. The Labour Government has increased the number of expected houses to be built by +59% in Hinckley and Bosworth and +74% in North West Leicestershire, while reducing them in Leicester City by -31%. This is shocking considering the city has brownfield sites and the right infrastructure.

"At the same time, development locally is continually compounded by the Liberal Democrat-run Borough Council still not having an up-to-date Local Plan and therefore lacking the protections for our area. A saga that has sadly been dragging on for years now.

"Thank you to everyone who spoke out and took part in the process.”