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Core Strategy (incorporating Development Control policies)

The Core Strategy looks at key issues such as what housing and other land uses should be planned for, the role of settlements, how we can protect the environment and reduce the impacts of climate change.

Core Strategy (incorporating Development Control policies)

The Core Strategy outlines the vision and overall objectives for development in North Norfolk up to 2021 and sets out where new housing and other development should be focussed. The Core Strategy also contains the district-wide Development Control Policies for North Norfolk that inform planning decisions. These cover specific topics such as affordable housing, housing density, tourism, flood risk, coastal erosion, climate change, redundant defence establishments and protecting the natural and built environment. Please see below to download the Adopted Core Strategy and associated documents. Further information can be found on the Core Strategy Adoption Page.

Developing the Core Strategy
The Core Strategy was developed between 2005-2008 and involved various stages of document production and consultation. Early stages involved establishing the issues to be addressed and various options for doing so, in consultation with the community.

These issues and options were used to help develop draft policy approaches, and in September 2006 the Core Strategy 'Preferred Options' report was published for consultation. Over 1,000 responses were received to this consultation and consideration of these informed the development of the Core Strategy policies that were submitted to Government for Examination in June 2007. A further six-week period of public consultation ran from 18 June to 30 July 2007 and the 750 comments made at this stage were forwarded to an independent Planning Inspector for consideration during the examination.
During the consultation a number of individuals and organisations put forward their ideas for additional land allocations and suggested boundary amendments. These representations themselves were subject to a six-week period of public consultation which took place from midday Monday 20 August to midday Monday 1 October. For further details see the Site Allocation and Boundary Changes consultation page.

Following the public consultation in Summer 2007, the District Council proposed that a number of minor changes should be made to the Core Strategy Submission document. The changes were proposed through a series of documents in order to provide extra clarity and to make factual corrections where necessary and did not alter the overall thrust or meaning of policies: Core Strategy (Submission) Schedule of All Minor Modifications

Those persons seeking major changes to policies or other areas of the Core Strategy had their case debated at the Examination Hearings which took place from 4 December 2007 to 18 January 2008. Following this, the Inspector considered all written representations and issues discussed at the Examination Hearings and submited his initial Binding Report to the Council on June 26 2008. The Council subsequently undertook a fact check to identify any factual errors and to seek clarification on any conclusions that were unclear.

North Norfolk District Council received the Inspector's Final Binding Report on the Core Strategy on 15 July 2008. The Inspector found the plan to be "sound" subject to minor changes which are outlined in the report (available above). The Council formally adopted the Core Strategy at the Full Council committee meeting on 24th September 2008.

One of the Inspectors key decisions was to reject the Councils proposed policy for the Re-use of Rural Buildings as Dwellings (Policy HO9 and known locally as 'the Barns Policy'). The Inspector ruled that the former Local Plan Policy 29 should be saved until a new policy is adopted.
In June 2009 the Council undertook public consultation on issues and options, including a questionnaire seeking opinions on the format and direction that the redrafted policy may take. Public consultation on the proposed Conversion & Re-use of Rural Buildings as Dwellings Draft Policy took place from 2 October to 13 November 2009. The Policy is now being considered by a Planning Inspector, with a decision expected in November/December 2010.
See the links below for further information.

Please see the links below for further details of the various consultative stages undertaken during the production of the Core Strategy. The comments made at each consultation stage can be viewed using our online consultation system.

Core Strategy Single Policy Review: Conversion & Re-use of Rural Buildings as Dwellings

If you have any queries about the Core Strategy, please contact the Planning Policy Team on 01263 516318 or email planningpolicy@north-norfolk.gov.uk