Examination Overview

Harborough Local Plan 2020 to 2041

Following approval at Extraordinary Council on 16th March 2026, the Council will shortly be submitting the Harborough Local Plan 2020 to 2041 to the Planning Inspectorate.

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Planning Inspector

A Planning Inspector will be appointed to conduct an independent Examination of the Harborough Local Plan.

The inspector’s task will be to consider the soundness and legal compliance of the submitted Plan, based on the criteria set out in paragraph 35 of the National Planning Policy Framework December 2023 (the Framework) and associated regulations, namely the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, the Localism Act 2011 and the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012.

The Inspector will take into account the representations submitted on the Regulation 19 Draft Local Plan as far as they relate to soundness and legal compliance considerations. A number of informal debates will take place on the principal matters identified by the Inspector. These are termed Hearing Sessions.

At the end of the Examination, the Inspector will prepare a report to the Council with precise recommendations. These recommendations may include modifications to the Plan, if such a request is made by the Council. 

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Programme Officer

The role of the Programme Officer is to independently undertake the administration of the examination under the direction of the appointed Planning Inspector (or Inspectors). The Programme Officer will liaise between the Planning Inspector, Harborough District Council and the interested parties for the duration of the Local Plan examination. All communications are handled by the Programme Officer.

Ian Kemp has been appointed as the Programme Officer.

The Programme Officer can be contacted as follows:

Email: ian@localplanservices.co.uk

Phone: 07723 009 166

Post:
Ian Kemp
Programme Officer
PO Box 241
Droitwich
WR9 1DW

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Examination process overview

Following the submission of the Local Plan, together with the evidence base and documents required by legislation, including the Regulation 19 representations, the Planning Inspectorate aims to appoint an Inspector within three weeks.

In the initial weeks after the inspector's appointment, they will contact the Programme Officer and start to undertake an initial assessment of the plan and organise the hearing sessions. Once the Inspector confirms the start date for the hearing sessions, the council must advertise the opening of a hearing at least six weeks in advance. The Programme Officer will publish an initial timetable for the hearing sessions, the matters and issues for discussion and the Inspector's Guidance Note. The Programme Officer will also clarify and confirm participants attendance at the hearings.

In preparation for the hearing sessions the Inspector will ensure that the programme for hearing sessions is updated as necessary and may prepare agendas for the sessions. The Programme Officer will publish any updates to the programme as well as any agendas for the sessions. The Inspector, council and participants prepare for the hearing sessions, including where necessary, reading any statements that have been submitted, two to three weeks is usually allowed for this.

For Local Plans containing both strategic and non-strategic policies, the Inspector may split the hearings into two or more blocks; the first dealing with legal compliance and strategic policies, including strategic sites. The subsequent dealing with non-strategic policies, development management policies and other matters.

As part of the examination, the council may ask the Inspector to recommend main modifications to the Local Plan, where necessary, to make the plan sound and legally compliant. Most plans are subject to this request. The wording of the proposed main modifications will be agreed between the Inspector and the council. Whilst the council has proposed a draft schedule of proposed modifications, which is published on the date of submission, this does not form part of the Submission Local Plan and is for consideration by the Inspector alongside any further modifications put forward for discussion at the hearing sessions.

Once the wording for any main modifications is agreed, the council may be required to undertake further work on the Sustainability Appraisal and Habitat Regulations Assessment as well as public consultation for a minimum of six weeks on the proposed main modifications. During this time the Inspector will progress work on their report, but it cannot be finalised until the Inspector has considered the responses to the main modifications consultation. Further hearing sessions are only held where essential, in the interests of fairness and in order to clarify or resolve substantial new issues arising from representations made on the main modifications.

We have prepared a series of frequently asked questions relating to the Local Plan Examination. Please follow the link to find out more https://www.harborough.gov.uk/info/20075/new_local_plan_%E2%80%93_2020-2041/626/examination_faq