Local Plan Review
Policy IMP1 sets out the circumstances where a review of the Local Plan would be undertaken. However, a review mechanism is an inappropriate and ineffective response to the fundamental matters of soundness set out above (and in the response to Policy SS1) that need to be directly addressed now before the Local Plan can be found sound. Moreover, such a "commitment" to a Review cannot be enforced if the Council decide, for whatever reason, not to honour the commitment in the policy (e.g. a failure to agree a new MOU that addresses unmet need arising elsewhere).

Whilst a similar review mechanism was endorsed by the North West Leicestershire Local Plan Inspector to address some similar issues, the trigger for the review there is the agreement of a MoU demonstrating a requirement to address an unmet need and that is apparently due in January 2018. A short delay in the submission of the Local Plan will allow the distribution of the development needs to be understood and then agreed ensuring that the unmet needs that are already arising in Leicester are appropriately provided for within the HMA, including Harborough District, in accordance with the requirements of the NPPF.