Insight

Norfolk Local Plan Watch - Spring 2024

16.4.24 2 MINUTE READ

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A varied plan-making picture across Norfolk as the Greater Norwich Local Plan is finally adopted.

North Norfolk complete their initial Hearing Sessions and Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk resume Hearing Sessions, whilst Breckland and Great Yarmouth remain at Regulation 18 Stage. Meanwhile, the consequences of the December 2023 changes to the NPPF start to bite, limiting opportunities for un-allocated development.

Almost three years after submission, the Greater Norwich Local Plan has been Adopted by Norwich City Council, Broadland District Council and South Norfolk Council. The Inspector’s Report on the GNLP confirmed that, notwithstanding the fact that the South Norfolk Village Clusters Housing Allocations Plan has not yet been finalised, the Authorities are able to demonstrate a five-year land supply. Consequently, following the changes made to the NPPF in December 2023, they will not be required to provide an annual statement setting out their housing land supply position. This will remain the case despite the fact that in recent weeks we have seen two of the largest regeneration schemes in Norwich, equating to around 3,000 homes, fall by the wayside with the Anglia Square developers pulling out of the site, and Norwich City Council refusing permission at Carrow Works.

Elsewhere, whilst North Norfolk District Council are only able to demonstrate just over four years’ worth of housing land supply, this is now sufficient to prevent engagement of the presumption in favour as their Local Plan has been submitted to the Secretary State.

Pressure remains on Breckland, following the Adoption of their Partial Review, to submit their Full Review for Examination by December 2024. This timescale is ambitious, but Breckland have pushed on with further Regulation 18 this Spring, with a view to moving to Regulation 19 (pre-submission) consultation by the middle of 2024. The current Local Plan will be five years old in November 2024, and Breckland will no longer benefit from the NPPF changes; they currently claim to have well in excess of five years’ housing supply, but if this slips later in the year, an opportunity may arise. However, this is likely to be a short window, as once their new Local Plan is submitted, the requirement will reduce to four years.

Five-Year Land Supply

 

The December 2023 changes to the NPPF mean that five-year land supply opportunities are currently limited across Norfolk. 

The Norfolk authorities are generally performing well under the Housing Delivery Test and it does not currently apply the tilted balance in any authorities

For detail on emerging Local Plan position in Norfolk, please click on the map below.

Contributors:

Our Planning team

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Iain Hill

Partner, Planning

Iain is a planning expert who uses his extensive master planning experience to contribute to the creation of award-winning developments.

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Sarah Hornbrook

Associate, Planning

Sarah uses her keen eye for detail and in-depth approach to ensure she provides clear, well founded planning advice to her clients.

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Spring 2024

Local Plan Watch

Our Local Plan Watch provides an update on the progress of the Local Plans coming forward across our region to allocate new land for development and highlights the key opportunities for landowners, promoters and developers. 

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