HDC Local Plan

How to make representations on the Draft Local Plan

The public consultation on the Proposed Submission Draft Harborough Local Plan 2020-2041 and supporting documents opens from 9am on Monday 10 March to 9am on Tuesday 6 May 2025. Should you wish to make representations on the consultation documents you must do so within the consultation period. Any representations received outside this period will not be considered.

Through our dedicated online consultation page you can view and comment on the following documents:
• Proposed Submission Draft Harborough Local Plan 2020-2041
• Policies Map
• Sustainability Appraisal (SA)
• Sustainability Appraisal Non-Technical Summary
• Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA)

The Policies Map is also available on the Council's interactive mapping system at www.harborough.gov.uk/interactive-policies-map

To submit comments, you will need to register with your name and email address. You can do this by clicking here. Registering is straightforward but if you need further help please go to https://harborough.oc2.uk/instructions

representations on this consultation will be considered by an independent Inspector appointed to examine the Harborough Local Plan. To comply with Government guidance, and to help ensure that representations are submitted in a format that the Inspector can readily use, your representations on the Local Plan must do the following:
• state whether the document (or the relevant part of it) is considered sound or unsound;
• if unsound, include an explanation as to how it can be amended to make it sound; and
• identify the 'test of soundness' or legal requirement (including meeting the Duty to Cooperate) to which the representation relates.

To be considered 'sound' a Local Plan must be:
• Positively prepared – the plan should be prepared based on a strategy which seeks to meet objectively assessed development needs and infrastructure requirements, including, where they arise, potentially making an appropriate contribution towards meeting unmet requirements from neighbouring authorities;
• Justified – the plan should be the most appropriate strategy, when considered against the reasonable alternatives, based on proportionate evidence;
• Effective – the plan should be deliverable over its period and based on effective joint working on cross-boundary strategic priorities; and
• Consistent with national policy – the plan should enable the delivery of sustainable development in accordance with the policies in the National Planning Policy Framework.

You are encouraged to use the online consultation system to make representations on the Local Plan and supporting documents through our dedicated online consultation page. This will ensure your representations are accurately logged and easily submitted to the Inspector.

If you cannot make your representation via the online portal, you can access a Word version of the representation form at www.harborough.gov.uk/representation-form. Should you require a hard copy of the representation form, please contact the Strategic Planning Team on Tel: 01858 821160 or email: planningpolicy@harborough.gov.uk. Completed representation forms can be returned to localplan@harborough.gov.uk or by post to: Strategic Planning Team, Harborough District Council, The Symington Building, Adam and Eve Street, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, LE16 7AG.

Supporting Evidence

A wide range of supporting evidence has been prepared to inform the policies set out in the Local Plan. This is available alongside the all the Proposed Submission documents on the Councils' website.
• Proposed Submission Documents and Supporting Evidence

Public drop-in events

To encourage and support local residents, businesses and organisations to comment on the Draft Local Plan and supporting documents, six public drop-in events are being held across the district.
These drop-in events are designed to provide interested parties with information on the consultation document, how to respond and what happens next. Venues, dates and times are as follows:

Place | Date and Time | Venue

Scraptoft | Wednesday 19th March
4pm-7pm | Scraptoft Community Hub (Lounge),
Malsbury Avenue, Scraptoft LE7 9FQ

Lutterworth | Tuesday 25th March
3pm-7pm | The Wycliffe Rooms (Community Room),
George Street, Lutterworth LE17 4ED

Great Glen | Tuesday 1st April
3pm-7pm | Great Glen Village Hall,
Main Street, Great Glen LE8 9GG

Market Harborough | Wednesday 2nd April
2pm-7pm | Harborough District Council (Council Chamber),
The Symington Building, Adam & Eve Street, Market Harborough LE16 7AG

Broughton Astley | Monday 7th April
4pm-8pm | Broughton Astley Village Hall (Alan Talbott Room),
Station Road, Broughton Astley LE9 6PT

Kibworth | Wednesday 9th April
3pm-7pm | The Old Grammer School (Main Hall),
School Road, Kibworth LE8 0JE