Norfolk Local Plan Watch - Spring 2024

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.