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A referendum will be held on Thursday 26 February 2026 on whether to adopt a neighbourhood plan for Thorner.
Leeds City Council has published a Decision Statement setting out modifications that have been made to the pre-referendum draft Thorner neighbourhood plan. The modifications accord with the recommendations of the examiner’s report and the Regulation 18 decision statement.
The modified neighbourhood plan is available to view:
The independent examiner recommended that subject to proposed modifications, the Thorner neighbourhood plan meets the legal requirements (known as the basic conditions) and should proceed to referendum.
The examiner recommended that the referendum area should be the Thorner neighbourhood area. We consider that the referendum plan (modified as set out in the decision statement) meets the basic conditions and other relevant legal requirements. We agree that the referendum area is the Thorner neighbourhood area.
Who can vote
The referendum will be held in line with procedures which are similar to those used at local government elections.
A person is entitled to vote in the referendum if both:
- they are entitled to vote in an election of any councillor of Leeds City Council whose area is in the referendum area
- their qualifying address for the election is in the referendum area
A person's qualifying address is, in relation to a person registered in the register of electors, the address in respect of which they are entitled to be so registered.
The referendum expenses limit that will apply in relation to the referendum is £2,436.75
The number of persons entitled to vote in the referendum by reference to which that limit has been calculated is 1,267.
Referendum documents
You can view relevant documents below or view them at:
- Scholes Library, Station Road, Leeds, LS15 4BJ
- Whinmoor Library, Naburn Approach, Leeds, LS14 2DF
- Leeds City Council, Merrion House, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, LS2 8LX
For more information, please email electors@leeds.gov.uk.
A report from an independent examiner into the draft neighbourhood plan:
A summary of letters and emails sent to the council about the neighbourhood plan during the independent examination process:
- A summary of representations submitted to the independent examiner during Regulation 16 publicity (PDF, 107KB)
- A list of representations submitted to the independent examiner (PDF, 673KB)
A decision statement of the local planning authority's satisfaction that the neighbourhood plan, subject to the modifications set out in the statement, meets the basic conditions specified by statute and complies with the provision made by or under Section 38A and 38B of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004:
A statement that sets out general information as to town and country planning including neighbourhood planning and the referendum:
A compliance statement, confirming that the council is satisfied that the neighbourhood plan meets the basic conditions and other relevant legal requirements:
Details of the referendum:
The area in which the referendum will be held:
Notice of referendum
Neighbourhood Planning Referendum for the Thorner neighbourhood area
1. A referendum will be held on Thursday 26 February 2026 to decide on the question below:
- “Do you want Leeds City Council to use the neighbourhood plan for Thorner to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?”
2. Applications to register to vote must reach the Electoral Registration Officer at Electoral Services, Civic Hall, Calverley Street, Leeds LS1 1UR by 12 midnight on Tuesday 10 February 2026. Applications can be made online: www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.
3. Applications, amendments or cancellations of postal votes must reach the Electoral Registration Officer at Electoral Services, Civic Hall, Calverley Street, Leeds LS1 1UR by 5pm on Wednesday 11 February 2026. Applications can be made online: www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote.
4. Applications for a Voter Authority Certificate valid for this election must reach the Electoral Registration Officer by 5pm on Wednesday 18 February 2026. Applications can be made online: www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate
5. Applications for an Anonymous Elector’s Document valid for this election must reach the Electoral Registration Officer by 5pm on Wednesday 18 February 2026. This document is available to electors who are registered anonymously and they will be contacted directly with instructions on how to apply.
6. Applications to vote by proxy at this referendum must reach the Electoral Registration Officer at Electoral Services, Civic Hall, Calverley Street, Leeds LS1 1UR by 5pm on Wednesday 18 February 2026. Applications can be made online: www.gov.uk/apply-proxy-vote.
7. Applications to vote by emergency proxy at this election must reach the Electoral Registration Officer at Electoral Services, Civic Hall, Leeds LS1 1UR by 5pm on Thursday 26 February 2026. For more information on emergency proxy arrangements please contact 0113 2224411 or email electors@leeds.gov.uk.
Ed Whiting
Counting Officer
Dated: Thursday 22 January 2026
Referendum timetable
| Event | Days (excluding dies non) | Date/time |
|---|---|---|
| Publication of Information Statement | No later than -28 | Monday 19 January 2026 |
| Publication of Notice of Referendum | No later than -25 | Thursday 22 January 2026 |
| First interim Notice of Alteration | -19 | Friday 30 January 2026 |
| Deadline for registering to vote | -12 | Tuesday 10 February 2026 |
| Second interim Notice of Alteration | -11 | Wednesday 11 February 2026 |
| Deadline for applying to vote by post | -11 (5pm) | Wednesday 11 February 2026 |
| Deadline for applying to vote by proxy | -6 (5pm) | Wednesday 18 February 2026 |
| Publication of Notice of Poll and Situation of Polling Stations | -6 | Wednesday 18 February 2026 |
| Deadline for applying for a Voter Authority Certificate | -6 (5pm) | Wednesday 18 February 2026 |
| Final Notice of Alteration | -5 | Thursday 19 February 2026 |
| Counting Officer to decide appointment of polling and counting observers | -5 | Thursday 19 February 2026 |
| First day to reissue lost postal ballot papers | -4 | Friday 20 February 2026 |
| Polling day | 0 | Thursday 26 February 2026 |
| Deadline for applying to vote by emergency proxy | 0 (5pm) | Thursday 26 February 2026 |
| Deadline for reissuing lost/spoilt postal ballot papers | 0 (5pm) | Thursday 26 February 2026 |
| Deadline for amending clerical errors | 0 (9pm) | Thursday 26 February 2026 |
Independent examination
The Thorner Neighbourhood Plan examiner's report has been published.
On 28 November 2024, the independent examiner for the Thorner Neighbourhood Plan, Ann Skippers, published her examiner’s report. The report is available to view:
On 4 February 2025, the council Published its decision in accordance with Regulation 18 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended). The decision confirms the modifications to be made to the Thorner Neighbourhood Plan in response to the examiner's report.
The decision also confirms that the Thorner Neighbourhood Plan, as modified, can proceed to a local referendum. You can view the council's formal decision.
You can view the Regulation 18 Decision Statement, which sets out the modifications to be made to the neighbourhood plan before the referendum takes place.
Submitted documents
The submitted documents are available to view:
- Thorner Neighbourhood Plan (PDF, 27.8MB)
- Consultation Statement (PDF, 5.14MB)
- Basic Conditions Statement (PDF, 5.64MB)
- Thorner Neighbourhood Plan Area Map (PDF, 1.58MB)
- The SEA-HRA screening report (PDF, 5.61MB)
Under paragraph 16 of The Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012, the council undertook publicity of the submission draft plan and associated documents between 22 July and 16 September 2024.
The consultation closed on Monday, 16 September 2024 at 5pm.
Information is also available on the Thorner Parish Council website.
