Adopted Local Plan |
 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:-
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. The Issues Report and results documents are available from our publications page. Supplementary Planning GuidanceThe 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. Biodiversity Supplementary Planning Guidance is available from our publications page. More information about biodiversity is available from the Norfolk Biodiversity Website Associated Policies of the CouncilWind Energy - A Statement of Council PolicyOn 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. The Statement is available from from our publications page. 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. Please see our publications page for more information. Affordable Housing - A Statement of Council PolicyThe 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 PolicyThe 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 |