Neighbourhood planning

Neighbourhood planning powers give people a say in how their local area should develop.

The planning legislation was introduced in 2012 through the Localism Act and gives communities the power to:

• agree a neighbourhood development plan
• make a neighbourhood development order
• make a Community Right to Build order

A neighbourhood development plan can establish general planning policies for the development and use of land in a neighbourhood, such as:

• where new homes and offices should be built
• what they should look like

Neighbourhood areas

Under the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 parish or town councils in the Broads developing neighbourhood plans need to apply to the Broads Authority and the relevant district council to designate the neighbourhood area that their proposed plan will cover.

This application is followed by a six-week period during which any member of the public may submit written comments about the proposed neighbourhood area to the Broads Authority and the relevant district council, who will then consider the comments before approving or rejecting its designation.

Neighbourhood planning and the Broads

Several parishes or town councils in the Broads are developing neighbourhood plans, going out to consultation or have had neighbourhood areas approved. You can find further details about these applications by clicking on the name of the parish or town council below. You can also see which Parishes or areas have produced or are producing Neighbourhood Plans on this map.

Adopted Neighbourhood Plans

• Acle - Adopted by the Broads Authority and by Broadland District Council. This is now in use when determining planning applications in the Acle Neighbourhood Area.
• Beccles - Adopted by the Broads Authority and by East Suffolk Council. This is now in use when determining planning applications in the Beccles Neighbourhood Area.
• Brundall - Adopted by the Broads Authority and by Broadland District Council. This is now in use when determining planning applications in the Brundall Neighbourhood Area.
• Bungay - Adopted by the Broads Authority and by East Suffolk Council. This is now in use when determining planning applications in the Beccles Neighbourhood Area.
• Filby – Adopted by the Broads Authority and by Great Yarmouth Borough Council. This is now in use when determining planning applications in the Filby Neighbourhood Area.
• Fleggburgh - Adopted by the Broads Authority and by Great Yarmouth Borough Council. This is now in use when determining planning applications in the Fleggburgh Neighbourhood Area.
• Hemsby - Adopted by the Broads Authority and by Great Yarmouth Borough Council. This is now in use when determining planning applications in the Hemsby Neighbourhood Area.
• Lound with Ashby, Herringfleet and Somerleyton - Adopted by the Broads Authority and by East Suffolk Council. This is now in use when determining planning applications in the Lound with Ashby, Herringfleet and Somerleyton Neighbourhood Area.
• Oulton - Adopted by the Broads Authority and by East Suffolk Council. This is now in use when determining planning applications in the Oulton Neighbourhood Area.
• Rollesby Neighbourhood Plan - Adopted by the Broads Authority and by Great Yarmouth Borough Council. This is now in use when determining planning applications in the Rollesby Neighbourhood Area.
• Salhouse - Adopted by the Broads Authority and by Broadland District Council. This is now in use when determining planning applications in the Salhouse Neighbourhood Area.
• Strumpshaw - Adopted by the Broads Authority and by Broadland District Council. This is now in use when determining planning applications in the Strumpshaw Neighbourhood Area.
• Thorpe St Andrew- Adopted by the Broads Authority and by Broadland District Council. This is now in use when determining planning applications in the Strumpshaw Neighbourhood Area.
• Winterton on Sea - Adopted by the Broads Authority and by Great Yarmouth Borough Council. This is now in use when determining planning applications in the Winterton-on-Sea Neighbourhood Area.
• Worlingham - Adopted by the Broads Authority and by East Suffolk Council. This is now in use when determining planning applications in the Beccles Neighbourhood Area.
• Wroxham - Adopted by the Broads Authority and by Broadland District Council. This is now in use when determining planning applications in the Wroxham Neighbourhood Area.

Neighbourhood Plans in progress - Last updated September 2024

• Barnby – Designated a Neighbourhood Area by Waveney Council and the Broads Authority in June 2018.
• Carlton Colville - Approaching referendum.
• Cathedral, Magdalen and St Augustine's area (within the City of Norwich) - Norwich City Council and Broads Authority resolved to refuse the Forum and Area applications. A new area has been designated but this is not in the Broads Authority Executive Area so the Broads Authority will not be involved in decision making.
• Horstead with Stanninghall - Designated a Neighbourhood Area by Broadland Council and the Broads Authority in August 2016.
• Loddon and Chedgrave – Approaching referendum.
• Mettingham, Barsham and Shipmeadow and Ringsfield and Weston - Designated a Neighbourhood Area by East Suffolk Council and the Broads Authority in February 2020.
• Oulton Broad - Designated a Neighbourhood Area by East Suffolk Council and the Broads Authority in March 2020.
• Reedham - Designated a Neighbourhood Area by Broadland Council and the Broads Authority in April 2019. Going through the process of being made.
• Stalham - Designated a Neighbourhood Area by North Norfolk District Council and the Broads Authority in October 2021.
• Trowse with Newton - Approaching referendum.

Useful links:

• The Government web pages.
• The regulations governing Neighbourhood Planning.
• Neighbourhood Planning on the Planning Portal.
• Neighbourhood Planning on the RTPI website.
• Design Council and Neighbourhood Planning.
• The Supporting Communities and Neighbourhoods in Planning Programme helps local groups develop neighbourhood plans
• Who to speak to at your local planning authority (PDF)
• How to engage and work constructively with your local planning authority (PDF)
• Top tips on Neighbourhood Planning: Managing relationships between Qualifying Bodies and Local Planning Authorities (PDF)
• Norfolk County Council Neighbourhood Planning advice
• Health in Neighbourhood Plans March 2024: A guide for Norfolk communities to embed health in neighbourhood plans (PDF)