Allocations Development Plan Document

Progress to date

Following completion of work on the Core Strategy work has now commenced on the Site Allocations plan. The Allocations Plan will allocated specific sites for a range of development types within the District up to 2028. The 'Call for Sites' gives members of the public, parish councils, landowners, agents, developers and other interested parties the opportunity to put forward sites for development. The period for accepting site submissions closed on Friday 30th March 2012.

A Site Assessment Methodology is currently being developed to ensure that only the most suitable and sustainable sites are included in the Site Allocations plan and that each site is proposed for the use for which it is most suitable. 

The Methodology will be used to assess potential development sites, including:

• Sites that have been suggested by the general public, including landowners, developers, and planning agents, both before and during the preparation of the Site Allocations plan;
• Sites that are allocated in an existing Local Plan and do not have a current planning permission;
• Sites that have been identified through other studies; and
• Other sites the Council believes merit consideration. 

The Site Assessment Methodology will be made available to view when completed (towards the end of June).

Local Green Space Call For Sites

As part of the Site Allocations Plan, a ‘Local Green Space Call for Sites’ is taking place from 28th May to 9th July 2012. The Local Green Space designation was introduced by the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) earlier this year and is a way of protecting open areas that are valued by local communities. Whilst the use of the designation rules out new development other than in very special circumstances, the NPPF makes it clear that its use must be consistent with sustainable development and investment in sufficient homes, jobs and services.  

Given the key role they play in representing their local community, Town /Parish Councils and Parish Meetings alongside District Councillors are invited to identify potential Local Green Space within their parishes for submission to the Council. In the absence of a Parish Council for Market Harborough, the Civic Society is being consulted along with District Councillors.   

A Guidance Note sets out the for Local Green Space designation and explains how it will replace the Important Open Land designation. For each potential Local Green Space site submitted to the Council, a Site Suggestion Form needs to be completed setting out how the site meets the criteria, its value to the local community and its location.

The closing date for submissions is 5pm on 9th July 2012.      

Potential sites will be consulted upon and formally designated as Local Green Space as part of the Site Allocations Plan or the relevant neighbourhood plan.