Thousands of new homes and a huge industrial complex could transform a huge part of Leicestershire.
Council bosses and landowners are drawing up plans for a massive development covering up to 1,000 acres near Junction 2 of the M69.
The proposal has been revealed in documents to be discussed by Leicestershire County Council next week.
The papers set out what they describe as a ‘strategic development area’ near the motorway which could include 4,500 homes and 2.8 million square feet of office, commercial and industrial premises.
It would potentially include three new primary schools, a secondary school, a ‘village centre’ and a new road network.
The area earmarked for development lies to the west of Stoney Stanton and Sapcote.
County Hall owns farms in the area and is anticipating selling them for development.
The development would sit close to the proposed Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange – a 440 acre complex between the M69 and the Leicester to Hinckley Railway line.
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Conservative county councillor for Stoney Stanton and Croft Maggie Wright said: “This will cause some concern because it is close to the rail freight proposal but it is still an emerging plan and we have yet to see the full details.
"It's the cumulative effect of two such big developments.
"There will be some sharp intakes of breath.
“The good news is that, unlike the rail hub, this is a local thing and we will be able to have some say on it.
“Sapcote and Stoney Stanton particularly have take a lot of development and a lot of the facilities haven’t really followed.
“The infrastructure is really poor.”
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Blaby District Council is currently reviewing its local plan strategy to determine where future development in the area will go.
It says the new development is likely to be written into its long-term planning.
Both the district and county council say the new community would help Leicestershire meet its Government-set projection that land for 180,000 homes will be needed by 2050 to meet the demands of a growing population.
A county council spokeswoman said: “Our main aim is to play a role in the development of new homes in Leicestershire – and particularly in ensuring they’re in the right place, are quality properties built with climate change and life-long living in mind and have the right roads, transport, schools, social care and other community facilities.”
The county council has not said how much it would make through the sale of its land holdings in the area.
County Hall’s cabinet will discuss the scheme on Friday.
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