High Leicestershire Neighbourhood Plan
Neighbourhood Plans
The 2011 Localism Act has given communities the right to draw up a Neighbourhood Plan. This right is aimed at giving local communities genuine opportunities to influence the future of the places where they live.
The preparation of the High Leicestershire Neighbourhood Plan allowed people who live, work and have a business in the area to have a say where they think new houses and businesses should be located and what they should look like. The Neighbourhood Plan also identifies and protect important Local Green Spaces, conserve local heritage and protect areas of nature conservation interest. The High Leicestershire Neighbourhood Plan is a statutory plan which means that decisions on planning applications will be made using both the Local Plan and the Neighbourhood Plan, and any other material considerations.
Referendum
An Independent Examiner, Mr Chris Collison, was appointed by Harborough District Council to undertake the Examination of the High Leicestershire Neighbourhood Plan. The Examiner's report was received on 8 November 2024 and it recommended that with some minor modifications the Plan met the Basic Conditions and should proceed to Referendum. The High Leicestershire Neighbourhood Plan and Examiners report was approved by Harborough District Council for a referendum to be held on 23 January 2025. All of the Examiner's suggested modifications were accepted and included in the Referendum Version of the neighbourhood Plan.
On a turnout of 40% of the electorate, of the total votes cast, 93% supported the Neighbourhood Plan. On 30 January 2025, Harborough District Council issued its decision to 'make' The High Leicestershire Neighbourhood Development Plan part of Harborough District Councils Development Plan in accordance with Regulation 19 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012.
Further information about the High Leicestershire Neighbourhood Plan and its previous stages can be found below.
The High Leicestershire Neighbourhood Development Plan: Final Decision Statement (PDF, 181 Kb)
Following a positive referendum result Harborough District Council published its decision to 'make' The High Leicestershire Neighbourhood Development Plan part of Harborough District Councils Development Plan in accordance with Regulation 19 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012.
Report of Independent Examination (PDF, 547 Kb)
A report to Harborough District Council of the Independent Examination of the High Leicestershire Neighbourhood Development Plan
High Leicestershire Neighbourhood Plan Referendum Version (PDF, 14.8 Mb)
The referendum version of the High Leicestershire Neighbourhood Plan
Decision Statement (PDF, 358 Kb)
The High Leicestershire Neighbourhood Plan Decision statement of the Local Planning Authority's satisfaction that the referendum version Neighbourhood Plan meets the basic conditions specified by statute and complies with the provision made by or under Section 38A and 38B of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004
Town and Country Planning Statement (PDF, 128 Kb)
The Town and Country Planning Statement sets out general information as to town and country planning including neighbourhood planning and the referendum
Notice of Referendum (PDF, 94 Kb)
Referendum information
The High Leicestershire Neighbourhood Area
The High Leicestershire Neighbourhood Plan Area comprises the following four Parishes which are situated in the northern part of Harborough District, Leicestershire:
Parish Council
Tilton on the Hill and Halstead
Parish Meetings
Cold Newton
Lowesby
Marefield
Submission
At its meeting of 13 May 2024, Tilton on the Hill and Halstead Parish Council approved the submission of the High Leicestershire Neighbourhood Plan and accompanying documents to Harborough District Council under Regulation 15 of The Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012. The District Council must satisfy itself that a draft Neighbourhood Plan complies with all the relevant statutory requirements before a further six-week public consultation takes place and then it is sent to an Independent Examiner.
High Leicestershire Neighbourhood Plan: Submission Draft (PDF, 26.2 Mb)
The version of the Draft Neighbourhood Plan that has been submitted to Harborough District Council.
High Leicestershire Design Codes and Guidance (PDF, 11.7 Mb)
This document sets out design codes and guidance for development within the Neighbourhood Area.
High Leicestershire Neighbourhood Plan: Basic Conditions Statement (PDF, 1.4 Mb)
Explains how the proposed High Leicestershire Neighbourhood Plan has been prepared in accordance with the Neighbourhood Planning General Regulations 2012 and how the basic conditions of neighbourhood planning, and other prescribed considerations, have been met.
High Leicestershire Neighbourhood Plan: Consultation Statement (PDF, 1.4 Mb)
Details the persons and bodies who were consulted about the proposed neighbourhood plan.
High Leicestershire Neighbourhood Plan: Strategic Environmental Assessment Determination (PDF, 524 Kb)
Harborough District Council's determination as to whether a full Strategic Environmental Assessment is required for the High Leicestershire Neighbourhood Plan.
National Policies and Guidance
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was first published on 27 March 2012 and updated on 24 July 2018, 19 February 2019, 20 July 2021 and 19 December 2023. This sets out the Government's planning policies for England and how these are expected to be applied.
The planning practice guidance that supports the NPPF is published online.
The Development Plan
The relevant development plan for the area is the Harborough Local Plan which was adopted by Harborough District Council in April 2019.
Previous Consultation
Tilton on the Hill and Halstead Parish Council initially consulted with seven surrounding parishes to establish the level of interest in the preparation of a joint neighbourhood plan. Cold Newton, Lowesby and Marefield decided to join with Tilton on the Hill and Halstead. Following that, Tilton on the Hill and Halstead Parish Council set up a Neighbourhood Plan Committee, comprising representatives from all four parishes, to prepare the plan.
Questionnaire
The Committee prepared and circulated a questionnaire survey to local residents in October/ November 2018. The total number of completed questionnaires was 216 have been published.
Summary of Questionnaire Responses (Word Document, 85 Kb)
Summary of responses to the 2018 Questionnaire Survey
Housing Site Selection Consultation Event
One of the key issues for the Neighbourhood Plan concerns housing development in Tilton on the Hill. On Saturday 3 June 2023, a consultation event was held in Tilton Village Hall concerning the allocation of potential housing sites. The event was attended by about 30 residents.
Consultation Report (PDF, 2.6 Mb)
Report of the Housing Site Selection Consultation Event
Housing Site Profiles (PDF, 6.6 Mb)
A profile of each of the housing site options
Site Assessment Framework (PDF, 1.1 Mb)
The Site Assessment Framework sets out how sites will be assessed for the allocation of land for housing development.
Housing Site Scoring Matrix (PDF, 64 Kb)
Housing Site Scoring Matrix updated following consultation on housing site options.
Pre-Submission Consultation
The feedback from the questionnaire results, community feedback and information about the area helped inform the preparation of the (Pre-Submission) Draft version of the High Leicestershire Neighbourhood Plan. Under Regulation 14 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012, a pre-submission consultation period of no less than six weeks on the proposed Neighbourhood Plan ran from Monday 22 January to Monday 4 March 2024. All representations and comments received have been considered by the Parish Council and used to amend the Pre-Submission Draft of the Plan.
Consultation Newsletter (PDF, 4.4 Mb)
Newsletter circulated to properties in the Neighbourhood Area publicising the Neighbourhood Plan
High Leicestershire Neighbourhood Plan: Pre-Submission Draft 2022-2031 (PDF, 21.8 Mb)
Pre-Submission Draft 2022-2031 version of the High Leicestershire Neighbourhood Plan
High Leicestershire Design Codes and Guidance (PDF, 11.7 Mb)
This document sets out design codes and guidance for development within the Neighbourhood Area.