Over 1,000 People Sign Petition Against Extra Homes For Harborough

Over 1,000 people have signed a petition urging Harborough District Council not to accept over-spill housing from Leicester.

Councillors will vote next week on whether or not to agree to the move, which would see over 1500 additional homes going up locally over the next 13 years – on top of Harborough’s own housing target.

MP Neil O’Brien, who launched the petition last week, says there is no legal requirement for the council to accept such a high number:

Neil O’Brien MP with the petition

All Councils in Leicestershire have been asked to sign-up to the ‘Statement of Common Ground’ as the city says there is a lack of suitable land available to meet its own housing target.

Council planning officers say not agreeing to the so called ‘duty to co-operate’ would put the authority at risk of not getting Harborough’s next local plan adopted, meaning it losing control of where developments can go.

Letters sent from government housing minister Rachel Maclean to Mr O’Brien and District Council Leader, Cllr Phil Knowles, confirms there is no formula imposed by the Government through which housing need for an area or unmet need must be transferred from one area to another.

It also states the ‘Duty To Co-operate’ is to be abolished after the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill receives royal assent.

Cllr Knowles said: ““The minister’s letter provides some of the clarity we sought from the Secretary of State and helpfully confirms that the duty to cooperate still applies.

“Mr O’Brien informed us in an earlier letter that the duty to cooperate has been replaced yet the minister advises: “The duty to cooperate will be formally abolished after the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill receives royal assent.” So it has not yet been abolished.

“The minister also goes on to say that “existing legal requirements and duties, including the duty to cooperate, will still apply” for plans submitted under the existing legal requirements and duties. So at this moment in time it still exists and has to be considered to give the council the maximum flexibility to get our local plan adopted as quickly as possible.

“We are still gathering in evidence, the minister’s own letter is proof of that and we will continue to do so.

“If when we get to full council there is further information that we all agree is needed, I won’t hesitate to look to defer the decision to a special meeting whilst we clarify the issues.

“This is an important decision and we won’t shy away from making it. But it will be based on fact.”