Regulation 19 - Proposed Draft Local Plan Submission
1. Introduction
Background
1.1 This document is intended to become the new Local Plan for Harborough District in Leicestershire. It sets out our strategy for how we will achieve our vision of sustainable development and enhanced quality of life for our communities, while preserving the district's attractive rural character and unique local heritage. Comment
1.2 Harborough District is home to around 98,000 residents (2021). Spanning 616 square kilometres (238 square miles), it boasts picturesque rural landscapes, with Market Harborough as its lively main centre. The district also includes the historic market town of Lutterworth and a myriad of smaller villages and rural communities. Our district is conveniently located immediately to the southeast of Leicester, a bustling city of more than 368,000 people, with Northampton to our south, and Rugby in Warwickshire to our west. Comment
1.3 The government requires every Local Planning Authority to have an up-to-date Local Plan. A Local Plan identifies local development needs and sets out policies for the delivery of new sustainable development and associated infrastructure, as well as policies which preserve sensitive characteristics. Comment
1.4 Covering the period from 2020 to 2041, this Local Plan sets out planning policies intended to shape the distribution, pattern, scale, and quality of development within Harborough District. It is accompanied by a Policies Map which identifies the areas within Harborough where different planning policies apply. You can view the Policies Map here: https://www.harborough.gov.uk/directory/51/policies_map Comment
1.5 We are delighted to share this Local Plan document with you following earlier consultation in 2024. We are inviting your comments on it before we submit it to the Secretary of State. A Planning Inspector will be appointed to lead an independent examination on this Local Plan which will be carried out in public. You can find out more about how to make comments on the Local Plan and about the independent examination process, including who can participate, here: https://www.harborough.gov.uk/info/20004/planning_strategy/327/how_to_get_involved Comment
1.6 Once the independent examination is complete and the Local Plan is formally adopted by the Council, it will become part of the statutory development plan for the area alongside Neighbourhood Plans and the Leicestershire Minerals and Waste Plan. This means that legally, decisions on any planning applications received by Harborough District Council must align with the development plan unless there are important and relevant planning reasons (material considerations) not to do so. Comment
