Final public consultation to begin on emerging Local Plan

Date published: 13th January 2022

A final round of public consultation on a new Local Plan for North Norfolk will begin on Monday 17 January and run until Monday 28 February.

In response to receiving over 900 responses, the Draft Local Plan has been revised to incorporate a stronger climate resilience theme.

The Plan introduces higher standards of environmental sustainability through new development including new energy efficiency standards, greater use of renewable energy, water use reduction measures, as well as higher standards of building design and measures to protect wildlife.

The Plan projects that the population of North Norfolk will increase by around 7,500-8,000 people by 2036 and that the area will have one of the highest proportions of residents over 65 years old in England.

New policies and development proposals will address development needs in the District over the next 15 years including specific development sites for around 4,900 new dwellings including affordable homes and elderly person’s accommodation, new employment sites, open spaces and improvements in supporting infrastructure.

This consultation is focused on asking if the Plan meets various ‘soundness’ and ‘legal compliance’ tests. The examiners role will be to consider whether the plan meets these key tests and to determine whether the Plan is fit for purpose.

Residents, businesses and organisations are now invited to consider the content of the revised document and to outline what changes may be necessary before the Plan is submitted to government for independent examination. The examiners will consider all responses made to this consultation.

The Council will also publish a number of supporting evidence documents which have informed the preparation of the Plan.

Cllr Andrew Brown, Planning Policy & Built Heritage Working Party Chairman added:

“We are pleased to be launching the latest version of the Local Plan and we hope our residents will take this opportunity to respond during the consultation period. The document introduces stronger policies on environmental protection, affordable homes provision, greater biodiversity and energy efficient construction.”

“Before submitting the Local Plan to the Planning Inspectorate, we need to hear your views in order to ensure that the Plan we submit is as robust as possible.”

For details of how to respond, and to view the consultation documents from 17 January, please visit www.north-norfolk.gov.uk/localplanconsultation