Planning Policy

The Planning Policy Team is responsible for preparing documents that set out the Councils approach to the management of development in the District. The planning system in England and Wales follows a plan-led system. This involves preparing plans containing policies that set out what can be built and where. The system was updated by an Act of Parliament (the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act) in December 2004 which requires local authorities to replace their current Local Plans with a new process known as the 'Local Development Framework'.

There are now two main levels of plan:

• Regional Spatial Strategies (RSS) - Each Regional Planning Body is preparing a Regional Spatial Strategy. This sets out issues such as how many homes are needed to meet the future needs of people in the region, or whether the region needs a new major shopping centre or an airport. The Regional Spatial Strategy for East Anglia is known as the 'East of England Plan' and replaces the former county-level Structure Plan. Further details on the East of England Plan can be found at http://www.eera.gov.uk/
  
• Local Development Frameworks (LDF) - North Norfolk District Council is preparing a Local Development Framework. This is a folder of documents that sets out how your local area may change over the next few years. The current policies in the adopted North Norfolk Local Plan will remain the basis for decision making until they are replaced by a new Development Plan Document (the Core Strategy) within the Local Development Framework (LDF).

There are other types of plan, such as how to deal with waste or mineral extraction. This is known as the Waste and Minerals Local Development Framework and is prepared by Norfolk County Council.

To view current activities and documents regarding the Local Development Framework please visit the LDF Website

Information on the new system of Planning is contained:

• within the Government Publication: The Planning System: General Principles
• and on the Planning Portal Guide to Local Development Frameworks page.
  

Current Adopted Policy:

• North Norfolk Local Plan (Adopted 1998) - Planning Policies for the North Norfolk District, except for that part designated as the Broads Executive Area. Please note: as from 28th September 2007 a number of Local Plan Policies have 'expired' and some have been 'saved' until the adoption of the Core Strategy (incorporating Development Control Policies) Development Plan Document.
• Broads Local Plan (Adopted 1997)
• Norfolk County Structure Plan (Adopted 1999) - Strategic Policies for the whole of Norfolk County.
• Norfolk Waste Local Plan (Adopted 2000) - Policies for Waste Disposal Planning.
• Norfolk Minerals Local Plan (Adopted 2004) - Policies for Minerals Development.

The Planning Policy Section uses information from a variety of sources to monitor, review and formulate planning policies. This information will be made available to the public, via this website wherever possible.

NB:These studies have been commissioned to formulate planning policy and do not represent District Council policy.

• Background Information (Strategies, Studies and Statistics)

If you require any assistance please contact the Planning Policy Team on 01263 516318 or email the team at planningpolicy@north-norfolk.gov.uk