Core Strategy

The key document in the Local Plan. This document provides a detailed framework for the control of development and use of land that guides most day-to-day planning decisions in North Norfolk.

Briefly, the adopted Core Strategy determines that:

  • the majority of new commercial and residential development will be directed to the "Principal Settlements" of Cromer, Fakenham, Holt and North Walsham;
  • there will be more limited development opportunities in the "Secondary Settlements" of Hoveton, Sheringham, Stalham and Wells-next-the-Sea;
  • a small amount of new development will be focussed on a number of designated "Service Villages" and "Coastal Service Villages" in order to support rural sustainability;
  • in the rest of the District, known as the "Countryside Area", development will be restricted to particular types of development such as that to support the rural economy, meet affordable housing needs and to provide renewable energy.

It also contains a series of development control policies that are used to determine planning decisions. These cover specific topics such as affordable housing, housing density, tourism, flood risk, coastal erosion, redundant defence establishments and protecting the natural and built environment.

Supporting information

Documents that support the Core Strategy are:

View the Core Strategy

Core Strategy Policy HO9 amendment

Following the publication of the National Planning Policy Framework in 2012, the Council considered and approved a revised approach to proposals in the countryside to re-use existing buildings for residential purposes. This revises Policy HO9 of the adopted Core Strategy to allow:

  • additional new homes to be created through the conversion of good quality rural buildings (subject to building quality test).
  • the removal of holiday use restrictions to allow full residential occupancy (where the building is in non-commercial holiday use/second home use).
  • in relation to Listed Buildings in all locations: to allow residential use where it constitutes the optimum viable use (optimum viable use being the optimum use for the building rather than a financial viability test).

The agreed approach is outlined on page 4 of the minutes of the Planning Policy & Built Heritage Working Party held on Monday 12 November 2012.

Most proposals to convert buildings to residential use, or for removal of holiday use restrictions, are subject to planning application approval.

Documents that support this update: