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Adopted Local Plan

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The planning system in Britain follows a plan-led system.  This involves preparing development plans that set out what can be built and where.  Planning applications are required to be determined in line with the adopted development plan for the area unless other material planning considerations would indicate that some other decision is appropriate.

The current development plan for Breckland has three parts:-

  1. The Regional Planning Guidance (RPG6) – More information about this part of the development plan can be found on the East of England Regional Assembly (EERA) website.
  2. The Norfolk Structure Plan - More information about this part of the development plan can be found on the Norfolk County Council website.
  3. The Breckland District Local Plan - Saved Policies September 2007

The Breckland District Local Plan was adopted in September 1999.  It was originally prepared to plan for the period up to mid 2006.

In 2004 the process for producing the development plan changed significantly.  Breckland Council has started to prepare a Local Development Framework that will replace the Breckland District Local Plan.

Breckland Council applied for some of the policies from the Breckland District Local Plan to be saved for a period after 27th September 2007 until the relevant parts of the Local Development Framework have been adopted.  Full details of which policies are saved for this additional period are available here following agreement with the Government Office for the East of England (GOEast).

Before the decision was taken to draw up a Local Development Framework the Council started the process of reviewing the Breckland District Local Plan.  An Issues Report was published for consultation in November 2001 and a householder survey was undertaken in March 2002.

Supplementary Planning Guidance

The Breckland District Local Plan is supplemented by the Biodiversity Supplementary Planning Guidance.  It was prepared by a working group of the local authorities in Norfolk, with English Nature (now Natural England) and the Norfolk Wildlife Trust, under the auspices of the Norfolk Biodiversity Partnership.

The guidance seeks to emphasise the importance of adopting a positive approach to biodiversity protection and enhancement, and sets out the key considerations relating to wildlife and biodiversity that should be taken into account in all development proposals.

Please follow this link to view the Biodiversity Supplementary Planning Guidance.

More information about biodiversity is available from the Norfolk Biodiversity Website

Associated Policies of the Council

Wind Energy - A Statement of Council Policy

On 29th of September 2005 the Council adopted a policy on Wind Energy.  It is a policy position of the Council and as such will have limited weight in the determination of planning applications.  Follow this link to view The Statement.  Also available is the Wind Turbine Development Landscape Assessment, Evaluation and Guidance document to assist in the appraisal of Wind Energy proposals.  This document was produced by Land Use Consultants for Breckland Council and King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Council and can be purchased as a CD-Rom.

Affordable Housing - A Statement of Council Policy

The statement of the Council’s policy for Affordable Housing was adopted in July 2003.  It sets out the basis on which the Council will negotiate affordable housing in Breckland.  The Statement is available from our Housing Strategy page

Design Principles - A Statement of Council Policy

The Council’s design guide “Design Principles” was adopted formally as Council policy in March 2005.  It sets out clear design criteria to encourage improvements in the design quality of new developments.  Design Principles is available from our Planning page

Related Documents

Adopted Local Plan (including Maps) available to view on-line at Planning Portal Website (instructions below)

  1. Click the link for General Public
  2. Click the link for “local information, find out more...”
  3. In the box “location of interest”enter the postal code NR19 1EE
  4. Then click the link for "view the development plan"

[You will now have the local plans page visible - on the left hand side there is a further link to the proposals map - you cannot search on an address, you will have to use the zoom buttons to navigate to your area of interest]

Adopted Local Plan Policies

Return to Planning Policy

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