Neighbourhood Planning - Billesdon Neighbourhood Plan Review 2023 (material modifications)

Billesdon Review Neighbourhood Plan was made on 10 June 2024.

The Plan was made with material modifications requiring examination but not referendum.

• Read the Billesdon review Neighbourhood Plan made 10 June 2024

Billesdon Parish Council, as the Qualifying Body, has decided to undertake a review of the Adopted Plan in 2022/23. 

The review of Billesdon Neighbourhood Plan commenced in 2022

The presubmission consultation (regulation 14) took place for a 6 week period in February and March 2023.

 The Plan was submitted to the Council on 25 September 2023 for Examination.

Strategic Environmental Assessment

Billesdon Parish Council asked Harborough District Council to undertake a screening assessment for the purposes of SEA requirement. The Statutory Consultees were asked for comment on the screening report and their responses and conclusions can be found in the determination of the Council.

• Read the Billesdon NDP Review screening report January 2023
• Read the Billesdon NDP Determination report March 2023

Submission of Neighbourhood Plan

Billesdon Neighbourhood Plan Review has been submitted by Billesdon Parish Council to Harborough District Council for examination.

In accordance with the regulations, the following documents have been submitted for examination:

• A copy of Billesdon Review Neighbourhood Plan proposal; 
• A map of the parish of Billesdon to which the plan relates;
• A Statement of Public Consultation; and
• A Basic Conditions Statement.
• Qualifying Body Statement of Modifications 
• LPA Statement of Modifications 

For more information and the Neighbourhood Plan evidence base please visit:

https://www.billesdonparishcouncil.org.uk/neighbourhood-plan

The Regulation 16 consultaiotn took place for a 6 week period from  22/11/2023 to 17/01/2024

Harborough District Council appointed a suitably qualified Examiner (Mr Andrew Matheson) to carry out an examination into Billesdon Neighbourhood Plan. 

The Examiner is  obliged to consider whether the amendments to Billesdon Review Neighbourhood Plan are:

• Minor (non-material) modifications to a neighbourhood plan or order are those which would not materially affect the policies in the plan or permission granted by the order. These may include correcting errors, such as a reference to a supporting document, and would not require examination or a referendum.
• Material modifications which do not change the nature of the plan or order would require examination but not a referendum. This might, for example, entail the addition of a design code that builds on a pre-existing design policy, or the addition of a site or sites which, subject to the decision of the independent examiner, are not so significant or substantial as to change the nature of the plan.
• Material modifications which do change the nature of the plan or order would require examination and a referendum. This might, for example, involve allocating significant new sites for development

The Examiner will only be testing whether the proposed Neighbourhood Plan meets the basic conditions and other relevant legal requirements. The Examiner will not be testing the soundness of the plan or looking at other material considerations but checking that the plan:  

• Has regard to national policy and advice contained in guidance issued by the Secretary of State;
• Contributes to the achievement of sustainable development;
• Is in general conformity with the Local Plan;
• Does not breach, and is otherwise compatible with, EU and human rights obligations;
• Meets prescribed conditions and complies with prescribed matters;
• Meets the legal requirements;   

Examiner Appointment

Billesdon Parish Coucnil ( as the qualifying body) has agreed that Mr Andrew Matheson should be appointed as independent examiner of the Billesdon Review Neighbourhood Plan. The Council will appoint Mr Matheson and the examination will commence after completion of the Regulation 16 consultation.

• Read the representations made as part of the Regulation 16 Consultation

All represntations have been forwarded to the Examiner

• Read the Examiners opensing questions to the Qualifying Body from the Examination (2 Feb 2024)

Initial Enquiries

The Examiner made a number of intial equiries for the Qualifying Body to respond to

• Read the initial enquiries of the Examiner
• Read the QB repsonse to initial enquiries
• Read the Council response to the initital enquiries

The final examiners report was received on 23 May 2024.

• Read the Examiner report into the Billesdon Review Neighboruhood Plan

The Qualifying Body provided the Billesdon Neighbourhood Plan Review with the examiners recommended modifications included on 3 June 2024.

The Billesdon Neighbourhood Plan Review was 'made' by officers under the approved Scheme of Delegation on 10 June 2024.

• Read the Billesdon Review Neighbourhood Plan 
• Read the Decision Notice to 'make' the Plan

Billesdon Parish Council, as the Qualifying Body, submitted a Frontrunner Bid to Harborough District Council to designate Billesdon Neighbourhood Area on 1 November 2011.

The Billesdon Neighbourhood Area was approved by the Portfolio Holder on 29 October 2012.

View the Billesdon Neighbourhood Area