Row Over Harborough Housing Numbers Rumbles On
Written by HFM News on 3rd October 2023
The Leader of Harborough District Council is ‘deeply disappointed’ the area’s Members of Parliament have turned down an invitation to meet him and colleagues ahead of a key decision on housing numbers.
The MP’s have differing views to council officers when it comes to the authority deciding whether or not to accept a share of Leicester’s un-met housing need.
They say it is not necessary, while council officials say it is a legal requirement under current government planning legislation.
Seven of the nine local authorities in Leicestershire have already agreed the ‘Statement of Common Ground’ which in Harborough’s case would mean over 1,500 extra homes being built across the district over the next 13 years.
A decision on the matter was put on hold last week, with Lib Dem council leader Cllr Phil Knowles inviting Conservative MPs Neil O’Brien, Alberto Costa and Alicia Kearns to an open meeting in a bid to clarify the situation, before it is considered again next month.
That invite has been declined, with the MPs instead saying any questions should be put in writing to them.
Cllr Knowles spoke to HFM:
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Harborough MP Neil O’Brien, who launched a petition against the council accepting the new homes which has the backing of over 2,000 people, spoke to HFM:
Alberto Costa MP and Alicia Kearns MP have been approached for comment.
