Background
Following adoption in March 2019, the Neighbourhood Plan has supported the Parish Council & Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council in responding to planning applications ensuring any planning permission meets what the community said they wanted to see and support.
Sheepy Parish Neighbourhood Plan Review – 2026
Whilst we already have a Neighbourhood Plan (see below), it inevitably becomes out of date over time as Government planning policy changes and if our Borough Council manages to produce and implement a new Local Plan. Having an up-to-date Neighbourhood Plan (one that is less than five years old) will give the community greater control over where any development takes place and the type of development (size and design etc). It can also specify what additional infrastructure and/or improvements it wants to see and ensure that adequate protection is given to what the community values most. Our current plan has been very effective in doing this so far but will become less so once new national and borough policies are approved.
Updating the current Neighbourhood Plan is therefore something that the Parish Council believes is necessary and that it needs community support and involvement to deliver it. Earlier this year, two information evenings were held. These were very well attended and demonstrated that there is strong support for the development of an updated Neighbourhood Plan.
Information-Evening-Presentation-March 2026_Final
Following the information evenings, a steering group has been appointed, and this group is now working on development of a draft plan. Community consultation is also essential. The Parish Council is therefore inviting households in the parish and local businesses to complete a questionnaire.
The questionnaire responses will inform the legally binding policies that the plan will contain as well as identify what our community values, wants to protect and where it sees improvements are needed. It is your chance to have a say.
The questionnaire can be found here: Sheepy NP questionnaire – 2026
Further information can be found on the recent newsletter currently being delivered to all households and businesses in the parish. The newsletter can also be found here:NP Newsletter_final_combined_October 2026_compressed
Current Neighbourhood Plan – Made 2022
At the July 2020 Parish Council Meeting it was agreed to proceed with a refresh to the Neighbourhood Plan to ensure that it remains current and effective. The Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group were asked to support the Parish Council with the following updates:
- Align with legislative changes
- Amendments to reflect changes taken place since the plan was made
- Enhancement of content including: providing design guidance with the aim of improving the quality of future planning applications
This process has now been completed and the reviewed Sheepy Neighbourhood Plan was made in April/May 2022, the full documents can be found here:
For full information please visit the Sheepy Neighbourhood Plan website: https://sheepyparishneighbourhoodplan.com