Council meets with professional standards institute for planning

The council hosted the Chief Executive of the RTPI, Victoria Hills, and the Regional Co-ordinator for the East Midlands, Shona Munro, at a networking event at the Harborough Innovation Centre which covered a variety of planning topics.

Also in attendance were the council’s Director of Planning, David Atkinson, the council’s Chief Executive, John Richardson and the Chair of the council’s Planning Committee, Cllr Amanda Burrell, plus other officers. Members of the council’s Planning Committee were also invited.

Topics of discussion included the need to have an up to date Local Plan to protect the Harborough district from unwanted, speculative and badly sited development, resourcing, education, provision of infrastructure, delivery of affordable housing, planning reform and more.

Cllr Amanda Burrell, Chair of Harborough District Council’s Planning Committee, said: “It was wonderful to welcome Victoria and Shona to the district and show them what strategic development is here.

“The event was particularly useful to listen to the RTPI’s Chief Executive stress the significance of having an up-to-date Local Plan in place, thereby confirming the importance of the recent decision the council took to prepare a new Local Plan as soon as possible.”

Victoria Hills, RTPI Chief Executive, said; “It was very helpful to hear how the investment in planning is supporting the local economy, and heartening to witness the genuine commitment to local planning and the Local Plan.

“We appreciated the open and far ranging discussion, with some helpful takeaways for our discussions with government policy makers.”

Shona Munro, RTPI Regional Co-ordinator for the East Midlands, said: “It was great to learn about the priorities in the Harborough District, the amazing achievements, and the challenges faced within the realm of planning.

“I look forward to working with the council in the coming months to get something in the regional events calendar and to continue to explore collaboration beyond.”

For more information about the Local Plan visit www.harborough.gov.uk/local-plan