Neighbourhood Plan formally adopted in Leicester Forest East

Councillors have adopted the Neighbourhood Plan for Leicester Forest East after being approved in a referendum.

Neighbourhood Plans are used when planning applications are decided, in addition to the Council’s Local Plan and other material considerations.

A referendum took place on Thursday 30 June, with residents of the village backing the Neighbourhood Plan with 85% of the votes cast. Councillors formally approved the plan to be used as part of the legal process Neighbourhood Plans must go through.

Blaby District Council has worked closely with Leicester Forest East Parish Council in assisting the development of their Neighbourhood Plan. Policies within the Neighbourhood Plan cover housing, the built and natural environment and employment.

The housing policies look at the mix of house types, affordable housing in the area and their design to ensure that the right types of homes are built in Leicester Forest East. Environmental policies cover the Local Green Space (Leicester Forest East Spinney) as well as locally valued heritage assets and protection for biodiversity in the area.

There are also policies in relation to valued community facilities and amenities, whilst the employment policies address both existing and new employment development as well as home-working and broadband infrastructure for the area.

Neighbourhood Plans have already been made in Blaby Village and the ‘Fosse Villages,’ a group of 10 villages in the south of the District. The Cosby Neighbourhood Plan has recently been examined and will be presented to Council later this year, as well as work taking place in Glenfield, as Parishes work hard to ensure they have a say in the future of their local area.

Councillor Ben Taylor, Portfolio Holder for Planning Delivery and Enforcement and Corporate Transformation, said: “This approval by Council is another fantastic step for local voices being heard in planning matters. An enormous amount of hard work from Officers and the Parish Council has taken place to get here.

“Neighbourhood Plans are all about residents having a say about their area, and this is exactly what Leicester Forest East have done. With Neighbourhood Plans growing in popularity, officers will continue to work with other interested Parishes on progressing with their plans for their areas.”

The latest plan and its documents can be found on the Leicester Forest East Parish Council website.

Portfolio Holder
Councillor Ben Taylor 

Planning Delivery, Enforcement and Corporate Transformation