New Local Plan

Local Plan Examination

Following approval at Extraordinary Council on 16th March 2026, Harborough District Council formally submitted the Harborough Local Plan 2020-2041 to the Secretary of State for independent examination on 17 April 2026.

The plan is now being assessed by an Independent Planning Inspector to ensure it is ‘sound’ and legally compliant, based on the NPPF 2023.

Detailed information on the examination can be found on the Local Plan Examination page.

What is a Local Plan and why are we doing one?

Local Plans are prepared by local planning authorities, with input from communities, and other stakeholders to guide how an area is protected and developed in the future. They identify suitable locations for housing, employment, green spaces, and infrastructure such as schools. Once adopted, they are used alongside neighbourhood plans and minerals and waste local plans when determining planning applications.

Councils must review plans at least every five years and plan 15 years ahead. Harborough’s current Local Plan, adopted in 2019, covers the period 2011–2031, and we are in the process of preparing a new Local Plan that will cover the period between 2020-2041. Without an up-to-date plan, it is difficult to manage built development and protect areas from inappropriate development.

Updating the Local Plan is also shaped by national policy changes including new housing targets. An updated plan will support sustainable growth while protecting Harborough’s environment and communities.

Further general information about local plans, how they are prepared and the process the Council is required to follow is outlined in this short video by the Planning Inspectorate (opens the YouTube website).

Journey to Submission

Regulation 18

The Issues and Options public consultation (Regulation 18) was the first stage of public consultation on the new Local Plan. It sought views on a range of planning issues and potential options for the future development of the district. We consulted on the Local Plan Issues and Options and associated Sustainability Appraisal between 16 January and 27 February 2024.

Regulation 19

The second part of the consultation process was the Proposed Submission Draft Harborough Local Plan (Regulation 19). Representations were made on the Proposed Submission Draft Harborough Local Plan and the supporting documents in accordance with Regulation 19 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) Regulations 2012. The consultation ran between 10 March and 6 May 2025.

The Draft Local Plan is the long-term plan to guide development within Harborough district in the period to 2041. It sets out a strategy for the amount, location, and design of new built development (such as homes, schools, employment, retail) whilst helping to protect the countryside, important green spaces and our unique built and natural heritage from inappropriate development, as well as improving the natural environment and tackling climate change.

The Proposed Submission Draft Local Plan and associated documents were published and made available in the Council’s offices and website, including all the Proposed Submission documents and a user-friendly interactive mapping system for the Policies Map was also made available.

This consultation represented the final opportunity to comment on the Draft Local Plan before submission to the Secretary of State for Examination. The consultation required comments to focus on the ‘legal compliance’ and ‘soundness’ of the Draft Local Plan:

To be legally compliant the Draft Local Plan must have been undertaken in accordance with all relevant legislation and procedural requirements; and
To be considered sound, the Draft Local Plan must meet the tests of soundness set out in the National Planning Policy Framework (i.e. positively prepared, justified, effective and consistent with national policy).

Submission

The Plan and its supporting documents, including responses to the Regulation 19 consultation, was formally submitted for independent examination on 17th April 2026. Planning Inspectors R Barrett MRTPI IHBC, L Nurser BA (Hons) MA DipUP MRTPI and W Cooper BA (Hons) MA CMLI have been appointed by the Secretary of State to examine the Plan.

During the examination, the Inspectors will assess whether the Local Plan meets the relevant legal requirements, demonstrates effective cooperation with partners, and is sound. The examination will include hearing sessions on matters identified by the Inspectors. Attendance at these hearing sessions is at the invitation of the Inspectors.

After the hearing, the Inspectors may recommend major modifications to the Local Plan. The Council will consult on these proposed changes, and the Inspectors will consider all consultation responses before finalising their report, setting out their findings and making recommendations.

If the Inspectors find the Plan to be sound and legally compliant, with or without modifications, the Council may proceed to adopt the Plan.

Supporting Evidence

A wide range of supporting evidence has been prepared to inform the development strategy and policies set out in the Local Plan. This is available alongside the all the Proposed Submission documents on the Examination Library webpage.

LDS (Local Plan preparation timetable)

The Council has a duty to prepare, publish and maintain a Local Development Scheme (LDS). This sets out the timetable for the key stages in the preparation of the new Local Plan. On 12 November 2025, the Council approved an updated Local Development Scheme setting out main stages through to adoption of the Local Plan.