The draft Local Plan is now undergoing independent examination. The new Local Plan will guide development decisions in North Norfolk until at least 2036.

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:

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

Still need help?

Visit our contact us page for further assistance about any of our information and services.