View information for all neighbourhoods on our neighbourhood plans page
Current stage
Harston Parish Council has a website dedicated to the Neighbourhood Plan.
The referendum on the Harston Neighbourhood Plan will take place on the 4 September 2025.
The following documents are those specified in the Referendum Information Statement [PDF, 0.5MB]:
- The ‘Referendum’ version of the Harston Neighbourhood Plan [PDF, 20MB] which includes a map of the designated Harston Neighbourhood Plan area
- The Examiner’s Report [PDF, 0.4MB] on the Harston Neighbourhood Plan
- The written representations on the submission version of the Harston neighbourhood plan [PDF, 0.1MB], that were submitted to the independent examiner
- South Cambridgeshire District Council’s decision statement on the receipt of the Examiner’s report and its decision to proceed to referendum (4 September 2025) [PDF, 0.3MB], including a statement of satisfaction that the ‘Referendum’ version of the Neighbourhood Plan mees the Basic Conditions and is legally compliant; and
- A statement that sets out general information as to town and country planning including neighbourhood planning and the referendum [PDF, 0.2MB].
Key dates
Neighbourhood area designated by us: 17 June 2022
Pre-submission public consultation (Regulation 14): 22 April 2024 to 11 June 2024
Neighbourhood Plan submitted to us: 11 December 2024
Submission public consultation (Regulation 16): 9 January 2025 to 20 February 2025
Neighbourhood Plan sent for examination: 27 February 2025
Referendum: 4 September 2025
Neighbourhood Plan made: n/a
Neighbourhood area designated
The decision to designate the Harston neighbourhood area was made on 17 June 2022 by the Joint Director for Planning and Economic Development.
- Application to designate Harston neighbourhood area [PDF, 1MB]
- Harston neighbourhood area designated map [PDF, 1.5MB]
Strategic Environmental Assessment / Habitat Regulations Assessment Screening Determination Statement
With Harston Parish Council, we have jointly prepared a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA) Screening Determination Statement (April 2024) [PDF, 1MB].
The Determination Statement screened in the Harston Neighbourhood Plan as requiring a SEA/HRA. As a result, AECOM commissioned by Harston Parish Council have prepared an Environmental Report setting out the findings of the assessment and recommendations for the Harston Neighbourhood Plan. AECOM prepared the following documents:
- AECOM SEA Scoping Report (April 2024) [PDF, 1.5MB]
- Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Harston Neighbourhood Plan (SEA) (August 2024) [PDF, 0.9MB]
Pre-submission consultation (Regulation 14)
Harston Parish Council carried out a consultation on its pre-submission Neighbourhood Plan from 22 April 2024 to 11 June 2024
Submission public consultation (Regulation 16)
Harston Parish Council submitted their Neighbourhood Plan and supporting documents to us on the 11 December 2024.
We have confirmed that the Neighbourhood Plan Complies with all the relevant statutory requirements [PDF, 0.2MB].
A public consultation on the submission version of the Neighbourhood Plan was carried out between 9 January 2025 and 20 February 2025.
The comments received during the consultation have been published and can be viewed using our online consultation system.
Neighbourhood Plan and Supporting documents
- Harston Neighbourhood Plan [PDF, 8MB]
- Harston Consultation Statement [PDF, 4MB]
- Harston Basic Conditions Statement (November 2024) [PDF, 3.5MB]
- Strategic Environmental Assessment and Habitat Regulation Assessment Determination Statement for Harston Neighbourhood Plan (April 2024) [PDF, 1MB]
- AECOM SEA Scoping Report (April 2024) [PDF, 1.5MB]
- Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Harston Neighbourhood Plan (SEA) (August 2024) [PDF, 0.9MB]
The supporting evidence for Harston NP are as follows:
- Harston Landscape Character Appraisal (April 2024) [PDF, 5.5MB]
- Proposed Local Green Space (September 2023) [PDF, 0.5MB]
- Harston Design Guidance and Codes, Final Report (October 2023) [PDF, 14MB]
- Harston Housing Needs Survey Results Report (November/December 2023) [PDF, 0.7MB]
- Harston AECOM Housing Needs Assessment Report (April 2023) [PDF, 1.5MB]
- Harston AECOM site options and assessment (February 2024) [PDF, 2MB]
- Harston AECOM Technical Note Traffic Issue in Harston [PDF, 0.7MB]
Examination (Regulation 17)
Harston neighbourhood plan was submitted for examination on 27 February 2025. The independent examiner appointed to carry out the examination is Andrew Ashcroft.
On the 4 March 2025, the examiner sent an Examination Arrangements Note [PDF, 0.2MB] [PDF, 0.2MB] to South Cambridgeshire District Council and Harston Parish Council.
On the 13 March 2025 the examiner sent a clarification note [PDF, 0.2MB] [PDF, 0.2MB] to South Cambridgeshire District Council and Harston Parish Council.
Harston Parish Council provided a response to the examiner on the 4 April 2025. This response was provided in two parts:
- Part 1 of the Response to the Examiner's Clarification Note [PDF, 0.2MB]
- Part 2 of the Response to the Examiner's Clarification Note [PDF, 0.3MB]
On the 1 May 2025, a further response to the examiner was sent. This was a joint response on behalf of both South Cambridgeshire District Council and Harston Parish Council that sets out an agreed way forward relating to comments made on Policy HAR 28 by South Cambridgeshire District Council in their response (Paragraph 49) to the Regulation 16 consultation.
- Response to the Examiners Clarification Note [PDF, 0.4MB] - Supplementary joint response from South Cambridgeshire District Council and Harston Parish Council on Policy HAR 28.
The examiner completed his examination, and sent his final examiner’s report [PDF, 0.4MB] South Cambridgeshire District Council on 17 June 2025.