Consultations

Great Bowden Neighbourhood Plan Review - Examination

Submission of Neighbourhood Plan

Notice is given that Great Bowden Neighbourhood Plan Review has been submitted by Great Bowden Parish Council to Harborough District Council for examination.

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

• Great Bowden NDP Review - submission version plan
• Great Bowdenl Review Consultation Statement
• Great Bowden Review Basic Conditions Statement
• Great Bowden Neighbourhood Area plan

The Qualifying Body has submitted their statement fo modifications and consider that the review plan requires examination and referendum as the modifications are material and do change the nature of the plan. The Council has also provided a statememt of modifications and concurs with the the view that examination and referednum are required for the review plan

• QualifyIng Body Statement of modifications Great Bowden NDP Review
• LPA Statement of Modifications

Other documents submitted 

• Appendix 1 Design Guide and Codes
• Appendix 2 Housing Site Assessment
• Appendix 3 Housing Needs Assessment
• Appendix 4 Environmantal Inventory
• Appendix 5 Local Green Spaces
• Appendix 6 Important Views
• Appendix 7 Listed Buildings
• Great Bowden NDP Review Reg 14 repsonses 

The Council validated the plan in February 2026

• Read the validation document

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

NP 2026 Regulation 16 Documents | Great Bowden Parish Council

Making Representations

A six week consultation the proposed Neighbourhood Plan is now underway running from 25 February 2026 to 8 April 2026. 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 8 April 2026 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:

• Concierge, The Symington Building, Adam and Eve Street, Market Harborough
• Bowden Stores 3 The Green, Great Bowden, Market Harborough LE16 7EU 
• The Red Lion  5 Main St, Great Bowden, Market Harborough LE16 7HB 
• The Shoulder Of Mutton 9 The Green, Great Bowden, Market Harborough LE16 7EU 
• Weltons Deli, 28 The Green, Great Bowden, Market Harborough LE16 7EU 

(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 Great Bowden 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 Arnesby 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 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;