Purpose

The purpose of this report is to consider the
conclusions of the Examiner’s Report on the Harston
Neighbourhood Plan, and whether those conclusions should be acted
upon and therefore that the Neighbourhood Plan should proceed to
referendum. This includes considering whether the examiner’s
recommended modifications to the Neighbourhood Plan should be made,
and whether the Council agrees that the Neighbourhood Plan meets
the Basic Conditions. 
 

Content

That
the Joint Director for Planning, having consulted with the Lead
Cabinet Member for Planning, recommends that Council

Notes
that the referendum for the Harston Neighbourhood Plan took place
on 4 September 2025.
‘Makes’ (adopts) the Harston Neighbourhood Plan
(appendix 1 to this report) as a part of the statutory
“Development Plan” for South Cambridgeshire following
the successful referendum.

 

Reasons for the decision

Where a
Neighbourhood Plan is successful at its referendum, national
planning legislation requires that the Council ‘makes’
(adopts) the Neighbourhood Plan, unless the making of the
Neighbourhood Plan would breach or is otherwise incompatible with
EU or human rights obligations.
 
Officers have concluded that the Harston Neighbourhood Plan
would not breach or be otherwise incompatible with EU or human
rights obligations, as set out in the Considerations
section.   

Alternative options considered

Where a
Neighbourhood Plan is successful at its referendum, SCDC has
limited options in how to respond. National planning legislation
requires that the Council ‘makes’ (adopts) the
Neighbourhood Plan, unless the making of the Neighbourhood Plan
would breach or is otherwise incompatible with EU or human rights
obligations.
 
Officers have concluded that the Harston Neighbourhood Plan
would not breach or be otherwise incompatible with EU or human
rights obligations, as set out in the Considerations
section.