Consultations

Houghton the Hill Neighbourhood Plan Review - Examination

Submission of Neighbourhood Plan

Notice is given that Houghton the Hill Neighbourhood Plan Review has been submitted by Houghton the Hill Parish Council to Harborough District Council for examination.

In accordance with the regulations, the following documents have been submitted for examination:

• A copy of Houghton the Hill Review Neighbourhood Plan proposal;
• A map of the parish of Houghton the Hill to which the plan relates;
• A Statement of Public Consultation; 
• A Basic Conditions Statement.
• Qualifying Body Statement of Modifications

The Local Planning Authority has also provided as required by regulations a statement of the nature of modifications to the Plan

• LPA Statement of Modifications

For more information and the Neighbourhood Plan evidence base please visit:

https://www.houghtononthehillpc.org.uk/neighbourhood-development-plan-2

Making Representations

A six week consultation the proposed Neighbourhood Plan is now underway running from 2 July 2025 to 13 August 2025. Representations on the Plan Proposal are welcome and must be submitted to Harborough District Council on the submission forms provided (eform and print version ) no later than 13 August 2025 as follows:

• by email to neighbourhoodplans@harborough.gov.uk ; or
• by post to Strategic Planning, Harborough District Council, The Symington Building, Adam & Eve Street, Market Harborough, LE16 7AG

The submitted documents can be viewed online by selecting the relevant attachments above. Alternatively hard copies of the documents can be inspected at:

• Houghton on the Hill Village Hall, Main Street, Houghton on the Hill
• Coop Store, 17 Main St, Houghton on the Hill
• Great Glen Library, Ruperts Way, Great Glen, Leicester LE8 9GR
• Evington Library, 200 Evington Ln, Evington
• Concierge The Symington Building, Adam and Eve Street, Market Harborough. 

(Please note that opening times vary. Please call the venue before travelling)

If you wish to be notified of the Council’s decision on the plan proposal then please state this in your representation.

Harborough District Council will appoint a suitably qualified Examiner to carry out an examination into Houghton on the Hill Neighbourhood Plan. Please note that all representations received during the consultation period will be forwarded to the appointed Examiner and be publicly available.  

The Examiner is obliged to consider whether the amendments to Houghton on the Hill Plan are:

• Minor (non-material) modifications to a neighbourhood plan or order are those which would not materially affect the policies in the plan or permission granted by the order. These may include correcting errors, such as a reference to a supporting document, and would not require examination or a referendum.
• Material modifications which do not change the nature of the plan or order would require examination but not a referendum. This might, for example, entail the addition of a design code that builds on a pre-existing design policy, or the addition of a site or sites which, subject to the decision of the independent examiner, are not so significant or substantial as to change the nature of the plan.
• Material modifications which do change the nature of the plan or order would require examination and a referendum. This might, for example, involve allocating significant new sites for development.

The Qualifying Body and the Local Planning Authority have both submitted statements of modification to the examiner and agree that the review plan requires examination and referendum. The examiner will make the decision whether the plan requires both examination and referendum.

In completing the representation form, please be aware that the Examiner will only be testing whether the proposed Neighbourhood Plan meets the basic conditions and other relevant legal requirements. The Examiner will not be testing the soundness of the plan or looking at other material considerations but checking that the plan:  

• Has regard to national policy and advice contained in guidance issued by the Secretary of State;
• Contributes to the achievement of sustainable development;
• Is in general conformity with the Local Plan;
• Does not breach, and is otherwise compatible with, EU and human rights obligations;
• Meets prescribed conditions and complies with prescribed matters;
• Meets the legal requirements;