Inspector gives green light for Council to adopt Local Plan

Published Monday 15 April 2019

An independent Planning Inspector has given the go-ahead for Harborough District Council to adopt its Local Plan.

As part of an examination into the ‘soundness’ of the Harborough Local Plan 2011-2031 – a key document which will help shape future development across the district – Harborough District Council has published the final report from Planning Inspector Jonathan Bore BA MRTPI DipUD.

The Planning Inspector’s task is to consider the ‘soundness’ of the submitted Plan, based on whether it is positively prepared, justified, effective and consistent with national policy, taking into account any comments made as part of public consultations.

In October 2018, a number of informal debates – known as ‘hearing sessions’ – on matters identified by the Inspector took place at The Symington Building in Market Harborough. This was followed by a public consultation in February 2019 when residents were given the opportunity to provide feedback on the Planning Inspector’s modifications to the Local Plan.

The report, published today, concludes that the Harborough Local Plan 2011-31 provides an appropriate basis for the planning of the District, provided that a number of main modifications are made to it.  

The Inspector’s report and the final version of the Plan will be considered by Harborough District Council's Executive on Thursday 25 April 2019, which will make recommendations to Full Council on whether to adopt the Local Plan. A subsequent Full Council meeting is scheduled to be held on Tuesday 30 April 2019.

Once adopted, the new Local Plan will drive development that the district needs to ensure that the growing population and future generations have access to great places to live and work, supported by the appropriate infrastructure. An adopted Local Plan will also enable the Council to refuse development that is not in accordance with the Plan. The planned growth and infrastructure will help the local economy to prosper, and it will positively manage development in a sustainable way, whilst protecting heritage and the countryside across the district.

View the Planning Inspector’s report and appendix of main modifications at www.harborough.gov.uk/local-plan-examination