Publication Of Draft Local Plan Put Back

The publication of Harborough District Council’s draft Local Plan has been put-back.

The authority had been due to release the details yesterday, but will now do so in late February/early March next year.

The document will detail where new housing and business developments will be built across the district over the next 17 years, ahead of a public consultation.

The delay in publishing the draft plan – which has been criticised by opposition councillors – comes after it was confirmed new government housing targets will not impact on it.

That means the council can now continue with its plan-making under the old system, which reduces the requirement from 723 to 657 houses a year, and when you take off housing sites that have already been permitted this will mean approximately 380 houses on new sites per year.

Over the period of the plan – till 2041 – it means approximately 1800 fewer than under the new system.

Cllr Phil Knowles, Leader of Harborough District Council, said: “I am delighted with this announcement as it proves that the approach the council has taken has been the correct one for our communities.

“We have been proved right, and I am so pleased we held firm in the face of persistent criticism from some quarters.

The council leader has been lobbying government during the consultation period on the proposed changes to national planning policy, to extend the transitional period between the current and new planning policy frameworks from one to three months.

He added: “We were pleased to see that the government listened and due to this we now have more time to develop the draft local plan further, discuss it with elected members and finesse the document.

“As such we will now undertake that work and will be sharing the new draft plan early in the New Year.”

Opposition Conservative councillors are unhappy at the delay in publishing the draft plan.

Cllr Phil King said: “Yet again, there is a lack of transparency for residents who will wonder if our South Leicestershire countryside is about to be carpeted over with concrete.

Cllr Simon Whelband added: “This document was supposed to be made public in October, and we won’t see it until next year.

“That means none of us know what sites the Council is looking at. It could be our area, but we are not sure.

“Again, it points to a lack of transparency with residents.”