The Local Plan Committee of North West Leicestershire Council met on Thursday 04 June 2026 to discuss the proposed North West Leicestershire Local Plan. The committee was scheduled to review the proposed submission draft of the Local Plan, which outlines the council's strategy for housing and economic development, as well as policies for creating attractive places and protecting the environment.

Proposed North West Leicestershire Local Plan (Regulation 19)

The main item on the agenda was the Proposed North West Leicestershire Local Plan, presented by Tom James, Interim Planning Policy Team Manager. This report detailed the proposed submission draft of the Local Plan, which had reached a crucial stage in its preparation. The plan aims to guide development within the district up to 2042, setting out policies for housing, economic development, town centres, infrastructure, and environmental protection.

The report outlined the progress made in developing the Local Plan, referencing numerous previous committee meetings where various policies and allocations had been discussed and agreed. It also detailed updates from key evidence base studies, including:

• Sustainability Appraisal: This assessment ensures that sustainability considerations are integrated into the plan's content, covering social, environmental, and economic objectives.
• Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA): This mandatory assessment evaluates the potential impact of the local plan on protected European sites, particularly concerning the River Mease Special Area of Conservation (SAC). The report noted that improvements to wastewater treatment works would alleviate some impacts, but mitigation was still required for certain allocations.
• Transport Modelling: Jointly commissioned with Leicestershire County Council, this modelling assessed the impact of proposed development on the highway network, factoring in development at East Midlands Freeport locations. The analysis indicated that proposed improvements and interventions were sufficient to mitigate the impact of the Local Plan allocations on the highway network.
• Viability Appraisal: This ongoing assessment by Aspinall Verdi evaluates the financial viability of the plan's policies and allocations, with findings expected to inform the level of affordable housing required.
• Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP): A draft IDP, updated to account for new site allocations and other studies, was being refined and would be made available as part of the consultation documents.
• Housing and Strategic Warehousing Needs: New Statements of Common Ground for housing and strategic warehousing were agreed, setting a housing requirement of 690 dwellings per annum and outlining significant strategic warehousing needs for the district.
• Gypsy and Travellers and Travelling Showpeople: An update to the accommodation assessment confirmed a reduced need for permanent pitches but highlighted the ongoing need for a transit site in Leicestershire.

The report provided an overview of the Local Plan's structure, detailing chapters on introduction, consultation, background, strategy, creating attractive places, housing, the economy, town and local centres, infrastructure and facilities, and the environment. It also explained how the draft plan met the tests of soundness: positively prepared, justified, effective, and consistent with national policy.

The committee was asked to recommend to Cabinet that the Proposed Submission Draft Local Plan, Policies Map, and Sustainability Appraisal be approved for consultation. Delegated authority was also sought for the Strategic Director of Place to make minor amendments before publication and submission to the Secretary of State for examination.

Response to Oadby and Wigston Regulation 19 Local Plan Consultation

The committee was also scheduled to consider the council's response to the Oadby and Wigston Regulation 19 consultation. The report recommended that the committee object to the Oadby and Wigston consultation, subject to the outcomes of ongoing discussions with partner authorities. Authority was to be delegated to the Strategic Director of Place, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Infrastructure, to issue a final response based on these discussions.