Local Plan (New)
The draft Local Plan is now undergoing independent examination. The new Local Plan will guide development decisions in North Norfolk until at least 2036.
Public Consultation: The Council is now undertaking further Public Consultation to address the Inspector's main areas of concern, following the publication of his interim findings. Please see the News Release and our Latest News section for ongoing updates.
Local Plan Examination
The draft Local Plan is now undergoing independent examination following submission of the Proposed Submission Version North Norfolk Local Plan to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities in May 2023.
What happens next
An independent inspector from the Planning Inspectorate is reviewing the Plan and its supporting evidence to decide whether it meets soundness and legal compliance tests. Public hearings were held between January and March 2024 to enable discussion on a range of key matters, issues and questions which the inspector has raised.
Further information
View the following pages to find out more:
- Local Plan Examination
- Examination Latest News
- Examination Library
- Formal Notice of Submission (Regulation 22)
You can visit the GOV.UK guidance page for Local Plan examinations for information about the submission and examination stages of Local Plan production.
What is a Local Plan?
The Local Plan sets out the strategic planning framework for the district and includes policies which determine how land can be used, what can be built and where. Plans ensure that the development needed due to population growth can be provided suitably and sustainably. It also details where new homes, jobs and infrastructure will be created to meet the area’s housing, employment and other needs while protecting and enhancing our unique natural and built environment.
It also addresses challenges such as:
- growing and ageing population
- providing affordable housing
- improving the design of development
- managing the potential impacts of climate change
Why do we need a Local Plan?
The government expects local councils to have an up-to-date Local Plan to guide development in their area. Having an up-to-date Plan means that we retain control over where development should and should not be located and the standards that new development should meet, rather than unplanned speculative development, sometimes without sufficient benefit to local communities. Failure to have an up-to-date Local Plan could risk government intervention and result in a loss of local control.
Local Plan progress and timetable
The emerging new Local Plan has been submitted to the government and is now at the examination stage.
| Plan making Regulations stage | Subject | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Regulation 18 | Preparation of a Local Plan including First Draft Local Plan consultation |
Complete |
| Regulation 19 | Publication of a Local Plan (Pre-Submission) | January 2022 |
| Regulation 20 | Representations relating to a Local Plan | January to March 2022 |
| Regulation 22 | Submission | May 2023 |
| Regulation 24 | Examination | In progress |
| Regulation 25 | Publication of inspector's recommendations | To be confirmed |
| Regulation 26 | Adoption | To be confirmed |
The Local Development Scheme has further information on the intended timeline and stages of producing the emerging Local Plan.
Consultations
The Local Plan consultation page details any current consultations.
How to get involved
- View information and follow the latest updates on our examination page.
- Follow Local Plan progress by viewing our committee agendas, reports and minutes and attending meetings.
- Sign up to receive our Local Plan newsletters and other notifications, which will keep you up to date on progress and let you know how and when to get involved.
Still need help?
Visit our contact us page for further assistance about our popular services and information.