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Strategic Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment

The purpose of the Strategic Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (SHELAA) update is to identify land and buildings in the city with potential for housing development for the 2017-2032 period and to identify and assess limits to delivery.

What is the purpose of the assessment?

The main role of the assessment is to:

  • Identify sites and broad locations with potential for housing and economic development
  • Assess their development potential
  • Assess their suitability for development and the likelihood of development coming forward (availability and achievability).

It should be noted that whilst the SHELAA is an important evidence base to inform plan making, it does not in itself determine whether or not a site should be granted planning permission or allocated for development. The assessment will technically assess as many options as possible for accommodating development, but it is for the Local plan to select the sites that would meet needs and best deliver the spatial vision and meet spatial objectives, by drawing upon the SHLAA and other evidence.

Please note

The SHELAA is not a decision making document and it does not allocate land for development. The judgement over the suitability of a site for development in the SHELAA does not in any way impact the determination of any future planning application on that site.

View SHELAA boundaries

The boundaries of the SHELAA sites can be found on our mapping system on the link below. You will need to click on the quick link 'View maps of the city on our web mapping system'. The SHELAA sites mapping can be found under the 'Planning' heading on the left of the mapping system.

The SHELAA has been produced in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework and National Planning Practice Guidance. The Housing Market Area (HMA) wide Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment Methodology Paper (2016) sets out how SHELAA’s across Leicestershire are carried out in line with the national guidance. 

You can find the SHELAA 2017 update, SHELAA site summary and Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment Methodology Paper - documents below.