Public representations invited on Local Plan

The Local Plan has reached an important stage, with a complete document now prepared and launched for public consultation. Harborough District Council is inviting representations from the public on the proposed new Local Plan from 9am on 22 September 2017 until 5pm on 3 November 2017.

People are being asked to make representations on whether the proposed Local Plan is legally compliant, whether partner organisations have been appropriately consulted, and whether it is ‘sound’. This is a legal planning term meaning people are invited to comment on whether the local plan is founded on robust and credible background information, able to meet development needs, deliverable and consistent with national policy.

Comments should be made online at www.harborough.gov.uk/local-plan

There will also be three drop-in sessions where you can find out more about the Local Plan and get help and advice from the team about how to get involved with the consultation.

These drop-in events will take place at:

• Scraptoft – The White House pub, 375 Scraptoft Lane, Leicester, LE7 9SE – Saturday 7 October 2017, 9.30am-2.30pm
• Market Harborough – Fairfax Suite, The Three Swans Hotel, Market Harborough, LE16 7NJ – – Saturday,  14 October 2017, 9.30am-2.30pm
• Lutterworth – Wycliffe Rooms, George Street, Lutterworth, LE17 4ED – Saturday 21 October 2017, 9.30am-2.30pm

Councillor Jo Brodrick, Harborough District Council’s portfolio holder for planning and regeneration, said: “The launch of the public consultation provides an important opportunity for people to make their representations on the Local Plan.”

The new Local Plan sets out a vision for the future development of Harborough district up to 2031. It provides for the homes and jobs needed for current and future generations. It will make sure that new development provides the community facilities, transport and other infrastructure needed to support development. It also includes planning policies to protect the district’s significant heritage assets, natural environment and important green spaces.

The Local Plan provides land for 4,660 new homes for the period to 2031 which is the balance required to meet the overall target of providing land for 12,800 homes.  8,140 homes have already been built or granted consent through planning permission, or allocated in neighbourhood plans since April 2011.

To accommodate this, two key areas of housing (strategic development areas - SDA) have been identified at East of Lutterworth (where about 2,750 new homes are planned – of which about 1,500 are to be completed before 2031), and Scraptoft North (1,200 homes). Last year Scraptoft North replaced the Scraptoft / Thunby site which had previously been proposed as a strategic development area.  Both of these SDAs will include the provision of affordable housing, new open space and community facilities and, in the case of East of Lutterworth, business and employment space.  Detailed masterplans will guide the development of these important sites delivering high quality sustainable communities.

There will also be a minimum of 1,130 homes allocated in Market Harborough. Other locations across the district have also been allocated for development.

On Monday 18 September 2017 councillors gave the go-ahead for the launch of the Local Plan consultation, withe representations are invited from the public.

There is also an opportunity to comment on the future status of the Scraptoft Local Nature Reserve. This is a separate consultation, which you can read and comment on at www.harborough.gov.uk/strategic-planning-consultations 

All representations on the Local Plan will be examined by a planning inspector appointed by the Secretary of State

View more details about the Local Plan on the council’s website at www.harborough.gov.uk/local-plan