Stocking Farm residents raise traffic concerns as £18.8m housing scheme takes shape

Traffic and the loss of familiar neighbourhood buildings are worrying residents near Stocking Farm, where preparations for 50 new council homes have begun.

Clegg Construction is clearing the site, including demolishing empty buildings, as part of Leicester City Council’s £18.8 million redevelopment in the north-west of the city, Leicester Mercury reports.

First announced in 2021, the plans include shops and community spaces both indoors and outdoors, alongside the housing.

Neighbours divided over the changes

Joseph Weston, 81, who has lived beside the estate for 56 years, fears more homes will add to traffic. He said the road already fills with cars at weekends, particularly during Sunday services at the church.

Taylor Bains, 27, is concerned about how new tenants might affect relationships between neighbours. He told LeicestershireLive: “We don’t want to lose our peace and quiet here.”

Having lived locally for 20 years, Mr Bains said losing the old post office and the working men’s club, where his mother worked, had been difficult. He also described previous problems with children trying to break into the former taxi rank and feared different problems could follow occupation of the homes.

Rob Hinsley, vicar of St Luke’s Parish Church, welcomed the investment after five years of waiting for work to start. He hopes redevelopment will reduce the anti-social behaviour that he said had affected the church.

Farmhouse retained as work moves forward

The listed 19th-century Stocking Farm farmhouse will be retained and converted into six supported living apartments. Another 16 supported living extra-care apartments are planned within its grounds. Mr Hinsley welcomed the decision to preserve the farmhouse as part of the area’s heritage.

Homebuilding is expected to start early in the new year, with completion of the wider scheme anticipated by mid-2028.

Deputy city mayor Cllr Elly Cutkelvin, whose responsibilities include housing, economy and neighbourhoods, said the council was committed to investment in its estates and believed the scheme would bring lasting benefits for residents.

Source: Leicester Mercury