Planning Permission in Harborough
Non-Metropolitan District in East Midlands · Last updated April 2026
Harborough is a large rural district in south-east Leicestershire, centred on the historic market town of Market Harborough. The district stretches from the outskirts of Leicester in the north to the Northamptonshire border in the south, encompassing dozens of small villages, rolling countryside, and some of Leicestershire's finest historic buildings. With 63 conservation areas — one of the highest totals in the East Midlands — and over 1,200 listed buildings, heritage considerations play a significant role in planning decisions across the district.
Thirty parishes in Harborough have adopted neighbourhood plans, giving local communities a strong voice in planning decisions. If you are planning works to your property, you should check whether your parish has a neighbourhood plan as it may contain additional design policies or site-specific guidance. The council also has an Article 4 direction in the Little Bowden Conservation Area, and permitted development rights are more restricted across all 63 conservation areas.
Harborough District Council determines around 772 planning applications per year, with an approval rate of 90.3%. The council provides pre-application advice from £120 for householder proposals and uses the Leicestershire Building Control Partnership for building regulations. The district's Housing Delivery Test score of 210% demonstrates very strong housing delivery. Use our free planning search tool to check the planning history and constraints affecting your property.
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What can I build in Har?
| Project type | Likely permitted development | May need planning permission | Likely needs planning permission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rear extension (single storey) | Only outside conservation areas and Article 4 zones | Properties near boundaries | Conservation areas (63), Article 4 zones (1), listed buildings |
| Rear extension (two storey) | Only outside conservation and Article 4 areas | Check distance to boundary ≥7m | Conservation areas (63), Article 4 zones (1), listed buildings |
| Side extension | Detached houses outside protected zones | Semi-detached properties (half-width rule) | Conservation areas (63), Article 4 zones (1), listed buildings |
| Loft conversion (dormer) | Only outside conservation and Article 4 areas | Properties on prominent corners or in Article 4 areas (Little Bowden Conservation Area Article 4 Direction) | Conservation areas (e.g. Allexton, Arnesby, Ashby Parva), listed buildings, flats |
| Loft conversion (Velux/rooflight) | Most of Har outside conservation areas | Front-facing rooflights in conservation areas | Listed buildings, Article 4 areas |
| Outbuilding / garden office | Only outside conservation areas and Article 4 zones, if within size/height limits | Large outbuildings covering >50% of garden | Conservation areas (side or front), listed buildings |
| Porch | Most properties if within 3m² and 3m height | Properties in Article 4 areas or near highway boundary | Conservation areas with restrictions, listed buildings |
| Solar panels | Most properties (roof-mounted) | Panels protruding beyond roofline | Listed buildings, conservation areas (if visible from road) |
| Driveway / hard standing | If using permeable surfacing | Non-permeable surfacing over 5m² | Conservation areas with specific restrictions |
| Garage conversion | Most of Har (internal works) | If changing external appearance significantly | Listed buildings |
This is general guidance based on Har's planning constraints. Your specific property may differ — use our free PD checker to get a result tailored to your address.
Permitted development in Har
Standard permitted development rights apply to most residential properties in Harborough, allowing extensions, loft conversions, and outbuildings subject to national size and positioning limits. However, the district's 63 conservation areas impose additional restrictions, and an Article 4 direction in the Little Bowden Conservation Area removes further rights for front elevation alterations and boundary treatments. The district has no Green Belt designation, but countryside policies in the Local Plan restrict development outside settlement boundaries. With 30 adopted neighbourhood plans, local design policies may also affect what is acceptable in your parish.
What Har expects from your project
Design quality in Harborough is strongly influenced by the rural character of the district and the quality of its historic built environment. The Local Plan emphasises the use of local materials — particularly ironstone, limestone, and red brick — and expects new development to respect the scale and character of existing settlements. The major Lutterworth East Sustainable Development Area (SDA) will deliver approximately 2,750 new homes with associated infrastructure, setting a benchmark for design quality in larger developments. In the smaller villages that characterise much of the district, extensions and new buildings should harmonise with the established village character. The 30 neighbourhood plans often contain detailed local design guidance specific to each community.
Local design guidance
Development Management DPD Design Policies
Published 2017Local Plan: Harborough Local Plan 2011–2031
Harborough District adopted its Local Plan in April 2019. The plan supports growth principally in Market Harborough, with a network of smaller settlements serving the rural district. It includes notable policies for the management of the Welland Valley landscape and the district's extensive network of village conservation areas.
Emerging / replacement plan
Harborough is preparing a new Local Plan. An Issues and Options consultation ran in 2022–2023, with a Regulation 19 plan anticipated in 2025–2026.
63 conservation areas
Har has a high number of conservation areas. Check whether your property falls within one before starting any work — conservation area status significantly restricts what you can do without planning permission.
90.3% approval rate
Har approves 90.3% of planning applications, above the national average of 86.9%. Well-designed residential applications in this area tend to have a good chance of success.
Conservation areas in Har
63 designated conservation areas
With 63 conservation areas, Harborough has one of the highest concentrations in the East Midlands. These range from the market town centres of Market Harborough and Lutterworth to the small rural villages of the Welland Valley and the high ground of the Leicestershire Wolds. The district has over 1,200 listed buildings, including 15 at Grade I — notable examples include the Church of St Dionysius in Market Harborough, Nevill Holt Hall, and Stanford Hall. The Little Bowden Conservation Area benefits from an Article 4 direction, and all conservation areas impose controls on demolition, cladding, satellite dishes, and other external alterations.
Article 4 directions in Har
1 Article 4 direction area
Listed buildings in Har
There are 1,275 listed buildings in Harborough. If your property is listed, permitted development rights are significantly restricted. Most external and many internal alterations will require listed building consent, which is separate from planning permission. Always check with Har's conservation team before starting any work on a listed property.
Planning application statistics
Year ending September 2025 | Source: MHCLG planning application statistics
Har received 935 planning applications and decided 772 in the year ending September 2025. The approval rate of 90.3% is above the national average of 86.9%. Major applications are expected to be decided within 13 weeks, while householder and other non-major applications have an 8-week target. The “in time” figures include decisions made within agreed extensions of time.
Harborough District Council processes approximately 935 planning applications annually, with an approval rate of 90.3%. Major applications are decided on time 83.3% of the time, while householder applications achieve an 88.2% on-time rate from a workload of 407 decisions per year. The council's Housing Delivery Test score of 210% is well above the national requirement, meaning no additional housing delivery consequences apply and the council's policies carry full weight. The delegation rate of 94.3% means most decisions are made by planning officers, with only a small proportion referred to the planning committee.
If your project complies with permitted development rules, you don't need to worry about approval rates — a Lawful Development Certificate is a factual assessment, not a judgment call.
Recent planning applications in Har
Browse what's been approved near you
Seeing what similar projects have been approved near your property can help you understand what Har expects in terms of scale, materials, and design. It's also useful for gauging how quickly the council processes applications.
Search planning applications on Har's portal →Data from MHCLG planning application register. Search for householder applications (H01/H02) to see extensions and loft conversions in your area.
Housing delivery in Har
Housing Delivery Test 2023 measurement | Source: MHCLG
Har delivered 2,976 homes against a requirement of 1,416 over the three-year measurement period, giving a Housing Delivery Test score of 210%. This is above the 95% threshold, which means there are no government-imposed consequences for housing under-delivery. Planning applications in Har are assessed on their own merits under standard planning policies.
Lawful Development Certificates in Har
A Lawful Development Certificate (LDC) is formal confirmation from Har that your project is lawful under permitted development rules. It is not legally required before you build, but it is the only official document that proves your project did not need planning permission. Most solicitors will ask for one when you come to sell, remortgage, or insure your property.
Har decided 407 householder applications in the year ending september 2025. Their 8-week performance of 88.2% is below the national average of 93%, so LDC applications may take longer than the 8-week target. LDC applications follow the same 8-week statutory determination period as householder planning applications.
How to apply for an LDC in Har
You can apply for a Lawful Development Certificate through the Planning Portal or directly through Har's website. You will need to submit:
- A completed application form (available on the Planning Portal)
- A site location plan at 1:1250 or 1:2500 scale
- Existing and proposed floor plans and elevations
- A written description of the proposed works and how they comply with the GPDO 2015
- The application fee of £258
Har must issue a decision within 8 weeks. If the application is approved, the certificate is a permanent legal record that the development is lawful. If refused, you can appeal to the Planning Inspectorate or amend your project and reapply.
Need help preparing your LDC application?
Our Permitted Development Certificate Report gives you a full PD eligibility assessment, property constraints check, and application checklist tailored to your address and project — so you can apply with confidence.
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Approval rates, decision patterns, Article 4 directions, fees & timelines, and council-specific tips for Har.
Pre-application advice in Har
Har offers a pre-application advice service. The fee for householder pre-app advice is £120 for householder proposals.
Pre-app advice is worth paying for if your project is borderline, your property is in a conservation area, or your home is a listed building.
Think your project might be permitted development?
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Check your PD rights now →Written advice typically provided within 28 days. Includes assessment of proposal against relevant planning policies and site constraints.
Planning fees and timelines in Har
| Application type | Fee | Typical timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Householder application | £528 | Single dwelling alterations/extensions (from April 2025) |
| LDC (proposed) | £264 | Confirm proposed works are lawful |
| LDC (existing) | £298 | Confirm existing works/use is lawful |
| Listed building consent | £0 | No fee for listed building consent applications |
| Prior approval | £120 | Larger home extensions, outbuildings etc. |
| Discharge of conditions | £145 | Per condition, per request |
| Non-material amendment | £44 | Minor change to approved householder scheme |
| Pre-application advice | £249 | Householder proposals; written advice within 28 days |
Fees are set nationally and correct as of April 2026. Pre-application fees are set by Har and may change. Building regulations fees are separate — see the building control section below.
Building regulations in Har
Building regulations approval is separate from planning permission. Most extensions, loft conversions, and structural alterations need building regs approval even if they don't need planning permission.
Building control in Har is provided by Leicestershire Building Control Partnership. Shared service covering Harborough and several neighbouring Leicestershire districts. Private approved inspectors can also be used. You can also use a private approved inspector instead of the council's service.
Harborough planning department
Your building project checklist for Har
- Check if your property is in a conservation area — Har has 63 conservation areas. Use our free checker or see the list above.
- Check for Article 4 directions at your address — Har has 1 Article 4 areas. Check your address.
- Check if your property is listed — search the Historic England list.
- Use our free PD checker to see if your project qualifies as permitted development — Check now.
- Consider a Lawful Development Certificate if PD applies — it protects you when selling. Learn more about LDCs or get your PD Certificate Report.
- Consider pre-application advice if planning permission is needed — see the pre-application section above.
- Check building regulations — most extensions and loft conversions need building regs approval even if they don't need planning permission.
- Check Party Wall Act obligations if building near a boundary — read our Party Wall guide or use our free Party Wall tool.
- Notify your home insurer about planned building work.
- Get at least 3 quotes from builders and check their credentials.
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