Local Plan Examination

The North Norfolk Local Plan is undergoing independent examination following its submission to the Secretary of State on 11 May 2023.

Please see our Latest News section for ongoing updates.

An independent inspector from the Planning Inspectorate, Mr David Reed BSc DipTP DMS, is reviewing the Plan and its supporting evidence to decide whether it meets soundness and legal compliance tests.

• The Inspector has considered the comments made as part of the previous Local Plan consultation and identified various matters, issues and questions to consider as part of the examination.
• Public hearing sessions were held between January and March 2024 to enable discussion in person of the key matters, issues and questions and subsequent agenda matters as raised by the Inspector.
• In July 2024, the Inspector published his initial findings about the soundness and legal compliance of the Plan. The Inspector identified three main areas of concern, regarding a shortfall in housing provision, the approach to Small Growth Villages as set out in Policy SS1 of the emerging Plan, and updating the Gypsy and Traveller evidence base to reflect the change in definition introduced in December 2023.
• In November 2024, the Council consulted on Proposed Changes to the Local Plan in order to address the Inspector's main areas of concern.
• It is anticipated that public hearing sessions will resume in early 2025 to allow for discussion on the matters and issues which the Inspector identifies in relation to the Council's Proposed Changes to the Plan.

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Latest news

View our latest news page, where we are posting updates as the examination progresses.

Public hearings

The examination hearing sessions took place over three separate weeks between January to March 2024. The latest timetable and list of participants for the hearings can be found in Section 1 of the Examination Library.

• Formal Notice of Examination Hearings (Regulation 24)

The Inspector identified various matters, issues and questions (MIQs), which were discussed in more detail at the hearing sessions. He also prepared agendas to outline key issues and to guide the discussions. All relevant information, including a number of additional documents arising from the hearings at the inspector's request, and responses to the MIQs, can be found in the Examination Library.

Examination Library

Visit the Examination Library to view the submission documents and other evidence that relates to the preparation of the Plan.

Programme Officer

Mrs Annette Feeney has been appointed as Programme Officer to organise and administer the examination, including organisation of the public hearing sessions and dealing with all procedural matters. The Programme Officer is independent from North Norfolk District Council and reports to the appointed examination inspector.

Contact details

Any enquiries relating to a current Local Plan Consultation should be sent to planning.policy@north-norfolk.gov.uk

Any queries relating to the ongoing North Norfolk Local Plan Examination process should be sent to the Programme Officer using the following details:

Email

annette.feeney@north-norfolk.gov.uk

Telephone

07775 771026

Post

Annette Feeney
Local Plan Programme Officer
North Norfolk District Council
Holt Road
Cromer
NR27 9EN