Local Plan modifications to be considered

In October 2018, following a number of ‘hearing sessions’, an independent planning inspector declared Harborough District Council’s Local Plan as ‘sound’ subject to some modifications.

To ensure the Local Plan can progress, the Council has carried out additional work and provided further information to address the inspector’s suggested modifications which included a recommendation relating to strategic distribution (eg. storage) facilities at Magna Park near Lutterworth.

The submitted plan has always allowed up 700,000 square metres of additional development at Magna Park – more than half of which already has planning permission.  The additional work supports this and the council has therefore identified a site to satisfy the inspector’s request. 

On 18 December 2018, councillors agreed that this modification could be submitted to the inspector for his consideration.

Councillors said the Council would be in a much stronger position to effectively manage potential development if the land is clearly allocated in the Local Plan rather than assessing each planning application as it is submitted.

A six-week public consultation period on the revised Local Plan will take place in the new year.

Cllr Phil King, Harborough District Council’s portfolio holder for planning, housing and regeneration, said: “We are pleased that following this additional work the Local Plan can progress to its final stages. We know residents are keen for us to have a Local Plan in place and we are hopeful, following public consultation, that this will be approved in the new year.”

Once adopted, the new Local Plan will set out planning policies in the Harborough district up to 2031. It will make sure development meets strategic priorities for housing, employment, community facilities, transport and other infrastructure needed to support development.