Neighbourhood planning

Neighbourhood planning provides the opportunity for communities to shape the future of their local area by having a direct role in the development of local planning policies.

Within North Norfolk, parish and town councils can carry out neighbourhood planning. The Council will provide guidance, technical support, and assistance and guide communities through key stages and decisions.

Neighbourhood planning gives communities the power to make a:

Producing a neighbourhood plan allows the community to create a vision and planning policies for the use and development of land in a neighbourhood. For example, identify land where new homes and businesses can be built and what they should look like, and address local issues where the local plan may not play a role.

Neighbourhood plans can be specific to one issue or address more complex matters depending on what has been identified as important to local people and what evidence supports a locally specific approach. They must, however, be in general conformity with the strategic policies in the adopted core strategy, align with the emerging local plan, and meet certain basic conditions as laid down by planning law.

You cannot use neighbourhood plans to promote a lower level of development.

Further information

A significant amount of guidance and advice is available nationally for neighbourhood planning groups through government-backed neighbourhood planning websites, locality websites, and professional planning bodies such as the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).

To help identify the best advice and support communities in creating a neighbourhood plan, several local guidance notes and checklists have been developed. These resources cover areas such as information gathering, conformity requirements, and process steps. See the advice and guidance section below for more details.

See our neighbourhood plan areas page to learn how to designate a neighbourhood area and check the progress of existing plans.

Process for preparing a neighbourhood plan

  1. Defining the neighbourhood: The first step is to designate a neighbourhood area in which the plan will apply.
  2. Preparing the plan: If approved, the town or parish council then starts preparing the plan. They must engage the community and let statutory consultees know. This stage includes a six-week consultation to publicise the proposals and consider responses. It should involve any affected landowners or tenants.
  3. Independent examination: The draft plan must then be submitted to the Council who will formally publicise the proposal for six weeks consultation. An independent examiner will be appointed to consider any representations and check it conforms to local and national policy. Changes may be recommended.
  4. Community referendum: Once satisfied with the plan the Council will organise a referendum. A majority of people voting must support the order.
  5. Legal force: If supported the Council will bring the plan into force and publicise its decision.

Advice and guidance

We strongly encourage parishes to seek early advice from the Council in the development of neighbourhood plans.

We can help to:

  • ensure the approach and plan meets legal and other requirements
  • signpost to useful supporting evidence and advice
  • identify appropriate mapping
  • provide the required legislative screening opinion
  • identify appropriate consultation bodies
  • advise on effective policy wording of draft polices and advice on conformity and basic conditions tests
  • reduce uncertainty and risks of delay or failure at the examination and referendum stages

Several local guidance notes and check sheets have been produced to assist neighbourhood planners. These are based around the frequent topics that parish and town councils have sought to include in neighbourhood plans. If followed they will help to support neighbourhood planning groups through the process.

National policy and guidance

This neighbourhood planning national planning practice guidance explains the neighbourhood planning system introduced through the Localism Act 2011, including key stages and considerations required.

The national planning policy framework sets out government's planning policies for England and how these are expected to be applied when preparing local and neighbourhood plans.

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