Issue - meetings

Decision

RESOLVED TO

1)    Note the outcome of the Inspector’s Report into the examination of the North Norfolk Local Plan, dated 31 October 2025 (Appendix 1 & 2);

2)    Recommend to Full Council that the Council adopts the modified Local Plan which incorporates the Main Modifications as the appropriate basis for the future planning of the whole District (Appendix 3);

3)    Notes that all policies of the North Norfolk Core Strategy 2008 and the Site Allocations; Development Plan Document 2011 (the current Local Plan) will be superseded by the new Local Plan upon adoption. This is subject to the provisions of paragraph 9.3 of this report that: ‘Upon adoption there is a six-week window under section 113 of the Planning  and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 during which an aggrieved party can challenge the decision to adopt a Local Plan on legal and procedural grounds’

4)    Delegates authority to the Assistant Director for Planning to publish the Adoption Statement and accompanying documents, making the North Norfolk Local Plan part of the Adopted Development Plan for North Norfolk;

5)    Delegates authority to the Planning Policy Manager to make any further necessary non-material modifications and any further updates to the Policies Map as required.

Reason for the decision:

It is a legal requirement to have an up-to-date Local Plan for the Council’s administrative area and to undertake review at least every five years. The updated North Norfolk Local Plan has been guided by a balanced cross-party working party, undergone formal rounds of consultation and independent examination by a Planning Inspector, and has been found “sound” subject to the inclusion of modifications and provides an appropriate basis for the planning of the District. The Plan provides the Council’s Strategic Planning Framework and is required in order to ensure the Council has an up-to-date Local Plan in place from which planning decisions are made.

The Portfolio Holder for Planning & Enforcement, Cllr A Brown, introduced this item. He began by thanking officers, both past and present, for their support in bringing the Local Plan to the final approval stage. It had taken 10 years and he referred members to page 106 of the agenda which set out the key stages to date. Members had been involved throughout the process via the Planning Policy & Built Heritage Working Party and Cabinet – across three administrations. As well as examination by the Planning Inspector, there had also been public consultations. There was no doubt that it had been a comprehensive process.

He thanked the Acting Planning Policy Manager and his team and also Members, who had voted in April 2023 to refer the Local Plan to the Planning Inspector for inspection.

He then outlined why the Local Plan was needed. He said that it gave the Council control over developments in the district and without a new plan in place, there would be a requirement after the 1^st January 2026 to start a new plan. This would present huge challenges, especially with LGR on the horizon and the introduction of a new Strategic Mayoral Authority. The Council would also lose the current housing delivery test which stood at 557 dwellings per year to 2040 and without a plan, this would increase to 932 dwellings per year, leaving the district vulnerable to speculative developers.

He acknowledged that the Plan was not perfect and accepted that there may be challenges to it ahead, especially with the Government’s ambitions for housing growth.

In conclusion, Cllr Brown said that with no Local Plan in place, the District would lose the Neighbourhood Plan conformance process and out them in jeopardy. There would also be substantial financial implications of having to start a new plan afresh.

The Chair said that it was a significant achievement, and he thanked officers and members for their hard work. He also acknowledged that it was not perfect and there were sites across the District that would make both members and residents uncomfortable. He reiterated that members must think of the implications of not approving the Plan, adding that there would be a doubling of housing numbers for a start and an increase in speculative development.

Cllr L Shires thanked Cllr Brown and the Planning Policy Team for their hard work. She said that residents didn’t fully understand all the complex layers of the planning process. Referring to North Walsham (NW16), Cllr Shires said that a lot of new dwelling were planned, which was welcomed by local residents, particularly families,  but they were concerned about the impact on services such as healthcare. She went onto say that the land at the end of Mundesley Road (NW16), was causing particular concerns. It had been a late addition to the Plan and was presented almost as a ‘done deal’ by developers. This had caused considerable concern and she said that Local Members would need to work with the community to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 85