Have your say on vision for Market Harborough

Published Thursday 19 May 2022

People are being invited to have their say on a vision for the town centre in Market Harborough at a series of drop-in events being held in May.

Harborough District Council is inviting people to view how the Market Harborough Town Centre Masterplan is progressing during the drop-in sessions at The Symington Building, in Adam and Eve Street, on:

  • Thursday 19 May – 2pm-7.30pm
  • Friday 20 May – 10am-4pm
  • Saturday 21 May – 11am-3pm  

Market Harborough town centre masterplan

The Market Harborough Town Centre Masterplan, is being developed by Harborough District Council with consultants TEP, and sets out longer term proposals to improve the historic town centre including new buildings, more varied uses (shops, cafés, restaurants, workspaces), streets, pavements and facilities for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport.

Cllr Phil King, Leader of Harborough District Council, said: “This is a really good opportunity for people to have a further say on how Market Harborough evolves to help add to the vitality of the town. It follows on from the excellent work being done in Lutterworth, to look at ways to improve the economic vibrancy of the town and ensure businesses can prosper.”

Town centres are facing challenging times due to competition from online shopping and edge of town shopping centres. However the Masterplan is an opportunity to make Market Harborough more attractive as a town centre and enable it to better serve its residents and visitors.

The town boasts many distinctive historic buildings, streets and spaces; the masterplan will consider how these heritage assets can enhance the town centre’s prospects in the future.

The first public consultation on the Masterplan was held in 2019. This was an opportunity to consider how the town centre works and what improvements could be made to make it more successful in the future. The second public exhibition took place in November 2019 and provided an opportunity to share thoughts and ideas to help refine the emerging masterplan.

Feedback from this latest public consultation will help inform how the Masterplan is finalised over the next month, in advance of being considered by the Council in June.

Please note, the Masterplan is not to be confused with ongoing proposals for a new Neighbourhood Plan for Market Harborough; this is completely separate. A neighbourhood plan, once adopted by referendum, enables communities to choose where they want new homes, shops and offices to be built.