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Local Plan review
Updating our Local Plan to reflect new national requirements and ensure future development in North Norfolk is well planned, sustainable, and shaped by local priorities.
The Council is preparing to review the Local Plan. The current Local Plan was adopted in December 2025. However, national planning policy and legislation have changed since then, including updated Government guidance on housing need. This means the Council is required to begin work on a new Local Plan to make sure that planning policies remain up to date and effective.
The Local Plan guides decisions on planning applications and helps make sure that new homes, jobs and infrastructure are delivered in the right places. It plays an important role in protecting the environment and supporting communities to thrive.
Preparing a new Local Plan will help make sure that future development across North Norfolk is well planned, sustainable, and supported by the right infrastructure. Without an up-to-date plan, there is an increased risk that development could take place in less suitable locations and with less local influence.
Notice of intention to commence Local Plan preparation
The Council is required to give at least four months’ notice of its intention to commence Local Plan preparation under the new plan-making system, and to publish a timetable setting out the key dates for preparing the Local Plan or any Supplementary Plans. This is currently scheduled to take place by or before 30 June 2026.
Further information will be provided here when available.
Call for Sites
A ‘Call for Sites’ is anticipated to commence shortly. This will allow any person to submit land for consideration through the Local Plan review process. Further information will be provided here when available.
Local Plan preparation stages
The Government has introduced a new system for preparing Local Plans. This is designed to make plans:
- quicker to prepare
- clearer and easier to understand
- more accessible, including through the use of digital tools
Under the new system, Local Plans are expected to be prepared within a set timeframe of 30 months and to focus on key issues such as housing, employment, infrastructure, and the environment.
The Local Plan will be prepared in a series of stages set out by the Government. A simplified overview is provided below.
| Stage | Description |
|---|---|
| Initial preparation | Early evidence gathering, project setup, and engagement |
| Call for Sites | To invite submissions of potential land that could be suitable for development or other uses |
| Scoping consultation | Seeking views on what the Local Plan should cover and how the Council should engage |
| Gateway 1 | Assessment of readiness to begin plan preparation (start of the 30-month timetable) |
| Draft plan (content and evidence) | Consultation on initial plan content and supporting evidence |
| Gateway 2 | Independent review of progress |
| Proposed Local Plan | Publication of the full draft plan for consultation |
| Gateway 3 | Final assessment before submission |
| Examination | Independent examination by the Planning Inspectorate |
| Adoption | Formal adoption of the Local Plan |
This process is set nationally and aims to make sure that Local Plans are prepared consistently and in a timely way.
The Council intends to commence the formal plan-making 30-month timeline on or by 31 October 2026. More information will be published here when available.
Getting involved
There will be opportunities for residents, businesses, landowners and other stakeholders to get involved at key stages of the process.
We will publish more information about how to take part in consultations in due course.
If you would like to be kept informed on the Local Plan process, please register for updates on the Local Plan.
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