New Houses Earmarked For Leicester Could Be Built Across Harborough

Councillors meet tonight to discuss if new homes earmarked for Leicester should be built across the Harborough District.

It would mean over 1,500 additional homes going up over the next 13 years – 123 annually – on top of the Harborough’s own housing target of 534 a year.

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

Harborough District Council officers are urging councillors to sign the agreement, saying not doing so would put the authority at risk of not being able to adopt Harborough’s next local plan, which dictates where development can and cannot go.

But Harborough MP Neil O’Brien says there is no legal requirement for such an agreement to be reached.

The Council’s coalition Executive will make a recommendation tonight, which will then be put before the Full Council later this month for a final decision.

Mr O’Brien has launched a petition urging the council to reject the idea, which he says is completely unfair:

Harborough could build home earmarked for Leicester city

Cllr Phil Knowles, Leader of the District Council, has written to the government to seek clarification on the situation.

In his letter to Rt. Hon. Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, he said: “I would ask that you urgently clarify the government’s position on the legal requirements to comply with the duty to cooperate and your policy position on the unmet need of neighbouring authorities and our obligation to accommodate this where possible for plans that are being worked on now, whether or not they might be submitted prior to June 2025.

“My council is to make a decision on whether to sign the Statement of Common Ground on 18 September 2023 and so your urgent attention to this would be appreciated. This is a key milestone in the production of our local plan and any further delays could result in significant planning consequences for my district, which I wish to avoid at all costs and I am sure you will agree having an up to date local plan in place as soon as possible is essential. Simply put Mr Gove which of the two advice streams would you follow?

“The clarity on this position will not only help my council in its decision but also make the position clear for authorities across Leicestershire.”

Cllr Knowles has requested a meeting with Secretary of State Michael Gove and relevant ministers to resolve the matter at the earliest possible date.