Councils working together on Harborough District draft local plan

Following the closure of a consultation on the draft local plan for the Harborough District, officers at Harborough District Council have written to Leicestershire County Council to express disappointment at assertions made about the draft plan.

Officers have also confirmed that the council will continue to work with Leicestershire County Council, other infrastructure providers and Inspectors appointed by government to ensure the draft plan meets the requirements of the planning system and delivers the infrastructure needed to support new development and communities within the district.  

At Leicestershire County Council’s Cabinet meeting on 18 March 2025, county council officers put forward the view that the draft local plan for the Harborough District was not sound and was in some way premature.

In the letter, the Director of Planning at Harborough District Council states that they cannot agree that the draft plan is unsound or premature, particularly as officers of both councils have been working so positively and collaboratively to ensure that the plan is sound and the best strategy for the district.

The letter highlights that a risk of not progressing a new draft local plan is that potentially significant growth and development could be delivered outside the local plan process and implemented in a piecemeal way that fails to deliver the necessary supporting local and strategic infrastructure.

The letter goes on to say: “It is also important to recognise the significant efforts that colleagues of both councils have deployed to ensure that the draft new local plan can be prepared under the provisions of the December 2023 National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). This means that the new local plan is required to plan for approximately 2,000 fewer new homes than would be the case if it were being prepared under the December 2024 NPPF considerably easing the likely new infrastructure burden.

“By producing the plan now it can also significantly reduce the period where the district is left vulnerable to speculative development in places residents do not want due to not having a current local plan. The letter concludes by welcoming the ongoing conversations with County Council officers which are identifying and resolving any ongoing issues associated with delivery of the draft local plan.”

Cllr Galton, Cabinet Lead for Planning said: “Our residents expect the county council and district council to be working closely and collaboratively for the best interests of our communities in the development of local plans. I was surprised by the county council comments, having understood both authorities have been working hard together to meet all legal requirements. I have been reassured that both authorities are continuing to work hard to address any issues that may still be present in order to deliver a sustainable and sound draft local plan which works for our residents.”

Consultation on the draft local plan ran from 10 March to 6 May 2025. Harborough District Council will now consider all feedback and present it to elected members who will decide whether or not to submit the draft local plan to government for independent examination in the autumn.