Current stage
The Harston Neighbourhood Plan was made on 2 October 2025.
The Harston Neighbourhood Plan as made now forms part of the development plan for South Cambridgeshire. All planning decisions in the area will need to comply with the development plan (that now includes the Neighbourhood Plan), unless material considerations indicate otherwise.
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: 2 October 2025
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.
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)
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.
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.
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.
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 to South Cambridgeshire District Council and Harston Parish Council.
On the 13 March 2025 the examiner sent a clarification note to South Cambridgeshire District Council and Harston Parish Council.
Harston Parish Council provided a response to the examiner on the 4 April 2025.
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.
The examiner completed his examination, and sent his final examiner’s report to South Cambridgeshire District Council on 17 June 2025.
Referendum
The referendum on the Harston Neighbourhood Plan took place on the 4 September 2025.
View the 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), including a statement of satisfaction that the ‘Referendum’ version of the Neighbourhood Plan mees the Basic Conditions and is legally compliant.
Making the Neighbourhood Plan
Harston Neighbourhood Plan was made on 2 October 2025 and now forms part of the development plan for South Cambridgeshire. All planning decision in that area will need to be made in accordance with the development plan (that now includes the Neighbourhood Plan), unless material considerations indicate otherwise.