Another Chance to Comment on Development Plans

11 June, 2007

North Norfolk people get another chance to comment on new planning policies that will shape the look and livelihood of the District for the next 15 years, when a six-week consultation starts on 18 June.

The Local Development Framework (LDF) is being produced by North Norfolk District Council (NNDC), and is the set of planning policies that will govern what can be built where in North Norfolk, up to the year 2021. The LDF has been widely consulted upon already and, where appropriate, comments from earlier consultations are incorporated in the new draft.

This consultation only covers the Core Strategy - the over-arching vision, objectives and policies that will influence the kind of development that happens, where it happens, how much of it, and when. It does not cover the LDF's detailed Site Specific Proposals, which identify the sites where development will take place. The Council is planning further consultation on specific sites in early 2008.

Comments (or 'representations') received during this current consultation are considered by the Planning Inspectorate rather than the Council. Anyone who has already made representations and feels that they have not been reflected in the new draft must respond again during this new consultation, if they wish to restate their views. Government guidelines state that earlier comments cannot be simply forwarded to the Planning Inspectorate.

Broadly speaking, in its current form the Core Strategy identifies that:

• Most new housing should take place in towns and larger villages.
• Cromer, Fakenham, Holt and North Walsham should have most of the new homes, with smaller housing developments in Hoveton, Sheringham, Stalham and Wells-next-the-Sea.
• Very small allocations of new housing should be made in Aldborough, Bacton, Blakeney, Briston and Melton Constable, Catfield, Corpusty and Saxthorpe, Happisburgh, Horning, Little Snoring, Little Walsingham, Ludham, Mundesley, Overstrand, Roughton, Southrepps and Weybourne.
• In all other villages and countryside areas, new development will be much more limited, though affordable housing schemes that give priority to local people will be encouraged, along with certain kinds of employment and amenity uses.

It also contains policies covering issues like flood risk, coastal erosion, employment land and tourism.

The LDF consultation documents are available for viewing at North Norfolk libraries or to collect, during office hours, from the Council's offices at Cromer or Fakenham. They can also be sent to you (free of charge if requested on CD-ROM, or with a £5 postage and packing fee if sent in hard copy). Email planningpolicy@north-norfolk.gov.uk or telephone 01263 516318 with your request.

To help ensure that people's comments are presented in such a way that they can be accepted by the Planning Inspectorate, and their time and effort won't be wasted, NNDC has produced a response form and guidance notes. These can be picked up from the Council's Cromer and Fakenham offices during office hours or downloaded from the LDF website (www.northnorfolk.org/ldf). They can also be emailed or posted to you: email the Programme Officer at ldfprogrammeofficer@north-norfolk.gov.uk or call 01263 516355 to ask for them.

The whole consultation (including viewing all documents and submitting comments) can also be undertaken online using the Council's LDF website at www.northnorfolk.org/ldf

Completed hard-copy forms can be submitted in the following ways:

• by fax to 01263 516309
• by email (as an attachment) to ldfprogrammeofficer@north-norfolk.gov.uk
• by post to LDF Programme Officer, FREEPOST RRAY-JSLS-TZTE, North Norfolk District Council, Holt Road, Cromer, Norfolk, NR27 9EN.

Responses must be received by 12 noon on Monday, 30 July, 2007.

The Council also plans three 'drop-in' sessions across the District to help people understand the consultation process and give them the opportunity to ask questions or discuss issues.

These drop-in sessions will be:

• Monday 18 June, 2-7pm - Council office, Holt Road, Cromer
• Monday 25 June, 2-7pm - Community Centre, New Road, North Walsham
• Tuesday 26 June, 2-7pm - Community Centre, Oak Street, Fakenham

For more information, visit: www.northnorfolk.org/ldf

ENDS