Could you help create a planning vision for Market Harborough that "genuinely represents the range of wants and needs in the town."?

If so, we are inviting residents, who live or work in Market Harborough, to join a forum to develop a Neighbourhood Plan to shape their neighbourhoods and guide future development in the town. 

Neighbourhood planning is a way for communities to help decide the future of the places where they live and work. Communities can use a Neighbourhood Plan to choose where they want new homes, shops and offices to be built, In an area that does not have a town or parish council, such as Market Harborough, a neighbourhood forum must be established to produce a neighbourhood plan. The neighbourhood forum, once established, is the legal qualifying body for the production of the plan.

The production of the Plan then follows a statutory process of designation, public consultation, independent examination, and referendum.

Read more and get involved here 

Thanks to positive engagement with residents, communities and developers we're continuing to provide housing and infrastructure where it is needed.

Over the past year, more than £1.5million of section 106 planning obligations have been secured, from developers, for community infrastructure such as recreational and health facilities, policing and affordable housing in the district. The figure was announced in the Council's Infrastructure Funding Statement, a summary of all financial and non-financial developer contributions, considered by the Cabinet on 11 October 2021.

Despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, over 1,000 homes have been built across the Harborough district in 2020/21 – including 207 'affordable houses', which are marketed at a lower rate, to help those people struggling to find a property to buy or rent within their budgets.

The Council has also reaffirmed its strong planning position with the publication of its latest Government-required 'five year housing supply' which identifies specific deliverable sites (ie. land) for development to meet housing requirements over five years. The Council continued to exceed the required five-year housing supply, with a 7.49 year housing supply.

Read full details here 

With Fireworks Night on the way, the Celebrate Safely campaign is offering some important tips and advice to ensure people have fun whilst respecting others, and keep pets safe.

To reduce disturbance for people and animals, and to prevent firework night incidents and accidents, we would strongly advise you to attend an organised firework display. 

Remember it is illegal to possess a firework if you're under 18 years old, set off fireworks after midnight on 5 November, or set off fireworks (including sparklers) in the street or public place. Breaking these laws can result in an on the spot fine of £90.

'Tis soon the season to be jolly, and we have a host of festive delights lined up for all to enjoy.

In collaboration with local shops and business, we're hosting our Christmas lights switch on event in The Square in Market Harborough on Friday 19 November 2021. The Christmas tree, which will lit up on the night, is once again being kindly provided by Market Harborough Building Society.

The shops will also be opening late that night and a 
Christmas food and drink market will be running in The Square and Commons car park on Friday, Saturday and Sunday 19, 20, 21 November 2021.

Lutterworth's Christmas lights switch on event, run by Lutterworth Town Council, will take place on Friday 26 November.

Look out for full details soon on the Council website.

Air quality has continued to improve in Lutterworth for the third year running, with the coronavirus lockdowns noted as a significant factor.

The Air Quality – Annual Status Report 2021 shows that, in the Air Quality Management Area in Lutterworth, there was no exceedance in the annual average levels of nitrogen dioxide in 2018, 2019 and 2020.

Fewer cars on the road, due to national coronavirus lockdowns, has been a cited as a contributing factor. Other factors include the success of the HGV gating system, which allows a greater free flow of lorries through Lutterworth by controlling traffic lights.
Read more here.

Following the popularity and success of the award-winning wildflower area in Welland Park, plans are underway to expand the project to Lutterworth and elsewhere.

In last month's newsletter, we reported that Market Harborough had scooped a Gold award in the annual East Midlands in Bloom competition – including a special award for our popular wildflower area in Welland Park, Market Harborough.

Now, plans are underway, in collaboration with Lutterworth Town Council, to create a similar wildflower space at Lutterworth Country Park next year. Discussions are ongoing about what seeds are best suited to environment in the popular park.

The Welland Park wildflower area contains more than 25 different species of wildflower and was designed to nurture biodiversity and attract bees, butterflies, birds, as well as other insects and pollinators.

We are also exploring the possibility of introducing more wildflower areas along the river bank in Market Harborough to the Commons car park.

We'll keep you posted as the projects develop and grow!