Neighbourhood Planning

What is it?

Neighbourhood planning is a new way for communities to decide the future of the places where they live and work introduced in the new Localism Act.  The formal provisions are expected to come into force on 6 April 2012.

Communities can use a Neighbourhood Plan to: 

• choose where they want new homes, shops and offices to be built
• have their say on what those new buildings should look like
• grant planning permission for the new buildings they want to see go ahead

Neighbourhood planning is optional, not compulsory.

View Neighbourhood Area applications

Harborough District Council has received applications for the designation of a number of 'neighbourhood areas' and, in accordance with the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012, the Council is carrying out a 6 week consultation on the proposed Neighbourhood Areas as set out below.

The applications show the area in which the parishes intend to use the new neighbourhood planning powers arising from the Localism Act and the supporting neighbourhood planning regulations. Representations should consider whether the neighbourhood area is appropriate to be designated.

Comments on the proposed Neighbourhood Areas should be sent to the Planning Policy Team by 5.00pm on the specified closing date:

By email to: planningpolicy@harborough.gov.uk

By post to:  Planning Policy Team

                       Harborough District Council 

                       Council Offices

                      Adam & Eve Street

                       Market Harborough

                       LE16 7AG                 

For more information please contact the Planning Policy Team by email: planningpolicy@harborough.gov.uk

Please note that this in not a consultation on the neighbourhood plans themselves, but merely the identification of the area for which the Parish/Town Council or Neighbourhood Forum wish to prepare a neighbourhood development plan.

View current Neighbourhood Area applications

Approved Neighbourhood Areas

The following Neighbourhood Areas have been approved by the Council and are being published in accordance with the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012:

• Billesdon Neighbourhood Area: Billesdon Parish Council, as the relevant body, applied for the designation of the Billesdon Neighbourhood Area. The application was publicised during July/August 2012 and was approved by Executive on 29th October 2012. View a map identifying the designated Billesdon Neighbourhood Area.
• Broughton Astley Neighbourhood Area: Broughton Astley Parish Council, as the relevant body, applied for the designation of the Broughton Astley Neighbourhood Area. The application was publicised during July/August 2012 and was approved by Executive on 29th October. View a map identifying the designated Broughton Astley Neighbourhood Area.
  • Broughton Astley Parish Council is consulting on their draft Neighbourhood Plan from 7th February to 25th March 2013; to view the draft plan on their website and take part in the consultation please click here.
• Foxton Neighbourhood Area: Foxton Parish Council, as the relevant body, applied for the designation of the Foxton Neighbourhood Area. The application was publicised during July/August 2012 and was approved by Executive on 29th October 2012. View a map identifying the designated Foxton Neighbourhood Area.
• Scraptoft Neighbourhood Area: Scraptoft Parish Council, as the relevant body, applied for the designation of the Scraptoft Neighbourhood Area. The application was publicised during July/August 2012 and was approved by Executive on 29th October 2012. View a map identifying the designated Scraptoft Neighbourhood Area.
• Lubenham Neighbourhood Area: Lubenham Parish Council, as the relevant body, applied for the designation of the Lubenham Neighbourhood Area. The application was publicised during Sept/Oct 2012 and was approved by on 10th June 2013.  This Neighbourhood Area is subject to an Agreed Division of Responsibility..  View a map of the Lubenham Neighbourhood Area.

The Stages of Neighbourhood Planning

There are expected to be five key stages to neighbourhood planning.

Stage 1: Defining the neighbourhood

Town and parish councils and community groups will need to apply to the District Council as the local planning authority to be called a 'neighbourhood forum' and prepare a plan.

Stage 2: Preparing the plan

Communities can choose to draw up either a neighbourhood plan (to establish general planning policies for the development and use of land in a neighbourhood), or a neighbourhood development order (granting planning permission for new development to go ahead). 

They must generally be in line with the adopted Harborough District Core Strategy and national planning policies.

Stage 3: Independent check

The Council will arrange for an independent examiner to check that it meets the right basic standards before it proceeds.

Stage 4: Community referendum

The Council will organise a referendum on any plan or order that meets the basic standards.  If the proposals put forward in a plan for one neighbourhood have significant implications for other people nearby - people from other neighbourhoods may be allowed to vote too.  If more than 50 per cent of people voting in the referendum support the plan or order, then the local planning authority must bring it into force.

Stage 5: Legal force

Once a neighbourhood plan is in force, it carries real legal weight. Decision-makers will be obliged, by law, to take what it says into account when they consider proposals for development in the neighbourhood.

Find out more about Harborough's approach to Neighbourhood Planning