The Local Plan Committee of North West Leicestershire Council met on Wednesday 20 May 2026 to discuss updates to the Local Development Scheme and the Local Plan policies. The committee also considered a response to a consultation from Oadby and Wigston Borough Council regarding its emerging Local Plan.

Local Development Scheme Update

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the Local Development Scheme (LDS) for North West Leicestershire. The LDS outlines the council's programme for preparing Local Development Documents over a three-year period. The current LDS, last published in February 2025, was due for an update to reflect the current timetable for progressing the Local Plan, with a submission deadline of 31 December 2026. Key milestones included seeking approval to consult on the Regulation 19 Local Plan in June 2026, followed by a consultation period from July to September 2026, and formal submission in November/December 2026. The LDS also detailed the council's commitment to producing a replacement Local Plan, which would guide future development and address housing and employment needs. The report highlighted the importance of consistency with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the requirement for Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA) and Sustainability Appraisals (SA) for development plans. The document also outlined the council's approach to Neighbourhood Plans, the Statement of Community Involvement, and the Authority's Monitoring Report.

Local Plan Policies Update

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing updates to various Local Plan policies. This included:

Strategic Warehousing Site Allocation Policies

Discussions were scheduled to cover policies relating to strategic warehousing site allocations, including sites EMP73 (part), EMP97, and EMP98. Concerns were raised about preserving green fields and maintaining separation between warehousing areas and adjacent settlements like Battram and Kegworth. The report pack indicated that policies included references to retaining gaps to settlements, which collectively aimed to ensure separation.

Housing Types and Mix

The committee was expected to discuss policies related to housing types and mix, with members noting the difficulties residents faced in finding bungalows to purchase. The potential for improving the locations where bungalows are built was also to be considered.

Policy IF8 – Update Regarding Lorry Parking

An update on Policy IF8, concerning lorry parking and new development, was scheduled. Discussions were anticipated regarding encouraging developers to offer their sites for lorry parking, particularly in areas like Donington Le Heath.

Design of New Development

There were no specific comments anticipated regarding the design of new development policies.

Isley Woodhouse Allocation – Updated Policy Wording

The committee was scheduled to discuss updated policy wording for the Isley Woodhouse Allocation. Suggestions were made to group policies into categories for public documents to improve navigation and understanding.

Policy H9: Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople

The report detailed the proposed policy wording for Gypsies, Travellers, and Travelling Showpeople. This included an update to the Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA) which indicated a reduced need for pitches. The report noted the ongoing work to identify a solution for a transit site, as no such provision currently exists in Leicestershire. The policy aimed to support proposals for new sites where they met criteria related to access to services, proportionality to settlements, highway access, and environmental impact.

Policy Ec1 – Economic Strategy

The committee was to consider Policy Ec1, which sets out the council's economic vision and strategy. This policy aims to encourage sustainable economic growth by allocating suitable sites for employment, maintaining business premises, supporting town and local centres, and encouraging local recruitment and workforce training.

Long-Term Management of Community Assets and Stewardship

A new policy concerning the long-term management of community assets and stewardship was scheduled for discussion. This policy aims to ensure that new open spaces, community facilities, and green infrastructure provided through development are properly managed and maintained in perpetuity. Developers would be required to demonstrate engagement with local councils and secure appropriate funding mechanisms for long-term stewardship.

Policy H5 – Affordable Housing

The committee was scheduled to discuss Policy H5, relating to affordable housing. The draft policy did not initially specify percentage requirements or tenure mix, pending the outcome of a Whole Plan Viability Assessment. The report noted changes to national planning policy regarding First Homes, leading to a recommendation to remove criterion (6) from the policy. The policy aims to secure affordable housing on-site as part of major residential developments, with provisions for off-site provision and flexibility based on viability assessments.

Response to Oadby and Wigston Regulation 19 Local Plan Consultation

The committee was asked to consider and agree an objection to the unmet housing need of 149 dwellings per annum declared within the emerging Oadby and Wigston Local Plan. Officers considered that the evidence presented by Oadby and Wigston Borough Council did not sufficiently justify this figure, citing concerns about site capacity, market saturation, and highways capacity. The report indicated that ongoing discussions were taking place with partner authorities and Leicestershire County Council regarding potential ways forward. It was noted that any unmet housing need from Oadby and Wigston was unlikely to significantly impact the North West Leicestershire Local Plan due to geographical distance and a lack of strong functional economic or housing market relationship.