North West Leicestershire

North West Leicestershire is a local government district in Leicestershire, England. The population of the Local Authority at the 2011 census was 93,348.[1] Its main towns are Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Castle Donington, Coalville and Ibstock.

This article is about the district. For the constituency, see North West Leicestershire (UK Parliament constituency).
North West Leicestershire District
Non-metropolitan district
Coalville, the largest town and administrative centre of North West Leicestershire district
Coalville, the largest town and administrative centre of North West Leicestershire district
Shown within Leicestershire
Shown within Leicestershire
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Constituent countryEngland
RegionEast Midlands
Administrative countyLeicestershire
Admin. HQCoalville
Government
 • TypeNorth West Leicestershire District Council
 • Leadership:Leader & Cabinet
 • Executive:TBD
 • MP:Andrew Bridgen (Reclaim)
 • Chairman of the CouncilVirge Richichi (Con)
Area
 • Total107.8 sq mi (279.3 km2)
 • Rank126th
Population
 (2021)
 • Total105,011
 • RankRanked 225th
 • Density970/sq mi (380/km2)
Time zoneUTC+0 (Greenwich Mean Time)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (British Summer Time)
ONS code31UH (ONS)
E07000134 (GSS)
Ethnicity98.8% White
Websitenwleics.gov.uk
Ashby-de-la-Zouch, best known for Ashby Castle and the second-largest town in the district
Castle Donington, the third-largest town in the district
Ibstock, the fourth-largest town in the district

The district contains East Midlands Airport, which operates flights to the rest of Britain and to various places in Europe. It is also notable as the location of Castle Donington and Donington Park, a grand-prix circuit and a major venue for music festivals.

The district is represented in the UK Parliament by the constituency of the same name.

The area has a long history of mineral extraction, with coal, brick clay, gravel and granite amongst the products. All the deep coal mines in the area have closed, but opencast mining still continues.

The district was formed in 1974 by a merger of Ashby de la Zouch Urban District, Ashby Woulds Urban District, Coalville Urban District, Ashby de la Zouch Rural District, Castle Donington Rural District and Ibstock from the Market Bosworth Rural District.

Parishes[2]

Human Geography
Population growth in North West Leicestershire
Year 1951 1961 1971 1981 1991 2001 2011 2016 2021 2031
Population 64,892 65,615 71,671 78,048 80,550 85,485 93,348 98,600 101,500 107,000
Census [3] ONS[4] ONS Projections [5]

North West Leicestershire has experienced steady population growth in recent times as the district balances the agro-rural economy with the end of labour-intensive deep coal-mining. Alternative employment opportunities exist within the district in the services and distributive sectors, together with local or nearby manufacturing and extractive/transformative/construction industries. The lack of rail services to/from Leicester, Loughborough and other nearby centres limits access for employment, commerce and leisure to a road journey that competes with freight and heavy-haulage vehicles especially to the south and east.

Economy
Donington Hall, headquarters of Norton Motorcycles, formerly of BMI

Since 2013 Norton Motorcycles has its head office in Donington Hall, Castle Donington.[6] BMI (British Midland), an airline, was headquartered in Donington Hall.[7] The airline moved its headquarters to Donington Hall in 1982.[8] The subsidiary bmibaby also had its head office in Donington Hall.[9]

Prior to its disestablishment, Excalibur Airways had its head office on the grounds of East Midlands Airport in Castle Donington.[10] Prior to its disestablishment, Orion Airways had its head office on the grounds of East Midlands Airport.[11]

In 2011 Coalfield Resources plc were given permission to develop an opencast coal mining pit on the site of the former Minorca colliery between Measham and Swepstone on a seam which will be 1 mi (1.6 km) across and extract 1,250,000 tonnes (1,380,000 tons) of coal over five years, and 250,000 tonnes (280,000 tons) of clay.[12]

North West Leicestershire District Council
For historic political control and leadership, see North West Leicestershire District Council elections.

Like many other shire districts, authority over North West Leicestershire is shared between the district council and the county council. Areas of responsibility of the district council include local planning, building control, council housing, refuse collection, recycling, and some leisure services and parks.

The district council is currently controlled by 38 councillors who are elected every four years; the last election took place in May 2023 and saw the Conservatives lose control of the council and Labour becoming the largest party. At a Council meeting on 23 May 2023 an Alliance of Conservative, Liberal Democrats and Independent councillors formed the administration. The current political make-up of the council is as follows:[13]

Political party Seats
  Labour 17
  Conservative 12
  Liberal Democrat 5
  Independent 4

Arms
Coat of arms of North West Leicestershire
Notes
Granted 30 October 1974[14]
Crest
On a wreath Argent Sable and Vert within a circlet of six lozenges conjoined Sable flames Proper issuant therefrom a demi-Lion Or gorged with a collar Gules bezanty and holding a Hhxagon Argent charged with a maunch Sable.
Escutcheon
Per chevron Argent and Sable in chief two ash trees couped and in base on a granite rock issuant Proper a castle of three towers Argent on a chief Vert between two garbs a mitre affrontée Or charged with two crosses formy Gules.
Motto
Ex Terra Opes (From The Earth Wealth)

References
  1. "Local Authority population 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  2. "Parish Map of North West Leicestershire". Leicestershire County Council. Retrieved 2008-12-10.
  3. Vision of Britain through time
  4. mid year estimate
  5. ONS population projections 2014 base / projections uplifted by '21-1,700/'31-1,600 given underestimation at 2016 - 1,700/
  6. The Wire (16 March 2013). "Historic Donington Hall to serve as Norton Motorcycles New World Headquarters and Manufacturing Facilities". Cycle World. Bonnier Corp. Retrieved 17 April 2013. Where else in the world can one tour an 18th century Gothic Revival mansion, view a Norton Motorcycle being built, watch a World Superbike race and attend an Iron Maiden concert all in the same place?
  7. "Contact us Archived 2008-11-02 at the Wayback Machine." BMI. Accessed September 23, 2008.
  8. "the eighties Archived 2012-06-10 at the Wayback Machine." British Midland International. Retrieved on 28 December 2011.
  9. "Company Information Archived 2012-07-14 at the Wayback Machine." bmibaby. Retrieved on 31 December 2011. "Registered office - Donington Hall Castle Donington Derby East Midlands DE74 2SB UK"
  10. "World Airline Directory." Flight International. 24–30 March 1993. "91.
  11. "World Airline Directory." Flight International. 29 March 1986. 114.
  12. "Leicestershire opencast coal mine gains approval" BBC News
  13. Council makeup, North West Leicestershire District Council website
  14. "East Midlands Region". Civic Heraldry of England. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
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