City expansion could face legal challenge

Opponents of plans to expand the political boundary of Leicester have said they will fight the move with all available means, including a legal challenge.

Ministers have announced plans for a shake-up of councils in Leicestershire which will see a "greater Leicester" authority absorb towns and villages on the edge of the city.

Reform UK and Conservative councillors and MPs in the county said they were furious about the "forced" ceding of political territory and would consider launching a judicial review against the decision.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said reorganisation would provide benefits including improved public services and a boost to regional growth.

Dan Harrison, the Reform UK leader of Leicestershire County Council, said he was furious about the decision, describing it as "a disastrous day for democracy".

"We'll be taking legal advice on launching a challenge to government to make sure residents are at the heart of the decision," Harrison added.

"Our professional officers will get on with the job.

"But this is reckless and we'll continue to fight for those residents who have been let down by the government."

Conservative leader of Harborough District Council Simon Whelband said there was "no mandate" to incorporate villages like Thurnby, Stoughton, Great Glen, and Scraptoft within an enlarged city authority.

"This is a slap in the face for the people of Harborough," Whelband said.

"The government has chosen to ignore the views of local communities and press ahead with a land grab that residents neither wanted nor voted for."

"My message to communities is simple," Whelband added. "Harborough District Council will not walk away. We are now looking at every option available to us, which includes legal challenge."

Liberal Democrat, Green and Labour councillors in Leicestershire have also criticised the city expansion.

However, Leicester's Labour mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said the move was not a "land-grab" and that the expanded city boundary was long overdue.

"It's something that happened in the 1970s in other cities and Leicester missed out," he added.

"Expanding the boundary gives people who are already effectively part of its suburbs a stake and a vote on how it is run. They have not had that in the past."

Leicester currently has a population of about 372,000 but that would grow to 623,000 under the approved plan.

The expansion will provide space for the city's estimated future housing need of 30,000 new homes by 2046, the city council said.

The authority has also calculated the move would allow £46m of annual efficiency savings for councils across Leicestershire by reducing duplication of services, saving back office costs and allowing the money to be redirected to front-line services.

A spokesperson for The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: "Local government reorganisation will put one council in charge of decisions in their area.

"This will speed up the construction of new homes and infrastructure, improve public services and boost regional growth to put more money in peoples' pockets."

Councillors will need to be elected to the new authorities.

These will be called "shadow elections" and are scheduled to take place in May 2027.

The new councils are due to be up and running by the beginning of April 2028.

Between the elections and the launch day, there will be a transition period where services and staff will transfer to the new authorities while services continue to be provided by the existing local authorities.

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