Planning Policy Supporting Documents

There are a number of supporting documents that provide evidence for the Local Development Framework.

Sustainability Appraisal

In order to make sure the Breckland Local Development Framework makes an effective contribution to the pursuit of sustainable development, an appraisal of the policies and development sites needs to be undertaken.  The appraisal assesses the broad environmental, social and economic characteristics of the District and evaluates potential options against a framework of 21 objectives to provide direction on a set of preferred options, which will be consulted on.

Urban Capacity Study

The Council has finalised its first Urban Housing Capacity Study (UCS) for the District.  The study seeks to estimate the number of houses that can be accommodated on previously-developed land and buildings in Breckland.  The UCS will be used as a supporting document to the emerging Local Development Framework (LDF).  Please follow this link to view the full study: Urban Capacity Study (PDF document 6,342 Kb)

Housing Land Availability

The Housing Land Availability Study indicates the amount and location of all land available for the development of housing within the District. The Study works closely in conjunction with the Local Plan. All sites identified in the Local Plan as suitable for housing that are currently undeveloped are included.

Planning Policy Guidance Note 3 puts forward a system of providing housing based on the "Plan, Monitor and Manage" approach. Effective monitoring is seen as essential "to the strategy of maintaining an adequate supply of land and buildings for housing and to enable its managed release".

To achieve this monitoring should "form the basis on which the regional planning body periodically manages the review and roll forward of the regional strategy and local planning authorities keep their plans up to date".

To access the current version of the Housing Land Availability Study please follow this link (PDF document 98Kb).  If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader, you can download it from the adobe website - http://www.adobe.co.uk

Retail Study 2004

Consultants Nathaniel Litchfield and Partners working for Breckland completed a retail study examining the five main towns in the District.  The study examined retail patterns as well as considering the future retail needs of our towns.  A summary of the study can be downloaded here or alternatively, the full study can be purchased from us.  Please see our Publications page for further details.

Retail Study Update 2007

In December 2006, Breckland Council commissioned Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners to produce a selective update of the 2004 Study to address key changes to the policy context and to re-assess the quantitative scope for retail development in Breckland over the next 10 years.  The update was completed in February 2007 and advises on the policies in PPS6 ‘Planning for Town Centres’, changes in Regional Planning policy and the emerging local planning policy in Breckland.

The Quantitative scope for retail development looks at the period 2007-18 and provides a capacity analysis in terms of levels of spending for convenience and comparison shopping. The analysis draws on the study area and householder surveys used for the 2004 study.  Experian expenditure data/estimates from 2005 have been used to derive available expenditure.  The 2007 update takes account of changes in retail provision in Breckland since 2004 and latest demographic projections from Norfolk County Council.

Summary of Findings

Floorspace Projections

The Retail Study update will form part of the evidence base for the emerging Local Development Framework.  The findings informed the options consulted on as part of the Development Choices consultation in March 200.  Find more information on the Consultation document here: Development Choices Document

Full copies of the 2004 Retail and Town Centre Study (CD-Rom or paper) and 2007 Update (paper only) can be obtained from the Planning Policy section, further details can be found on the Planning Policy Publications page

Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) 2005

The Council appointed consultants Mott MacDonald to undertake a Strategic Flood Risk Assessment for the District.  This project was completed in August 2005 – Find out more information here.

Employment Land Review Study

Roger Tym and Partners and GVA Grimley have produced a review of the employment land in Breckland.  The review consisted of four stages.  Read the summary of the study here (PDF document 35Kb)

Planning Policy Newsletters

The Planning Policy team will be producing newsletters about what we are doing with information about when stakeholders can get involved in the process.  The newsletter is sent out to all town and parish councils and everyone who has registered an interest in the Breckland Local Development Framework.  If you would like to be kept informed on progress on the Local Development Framework please email your contact details to:  planningpolicyteam@breckland.gov.uk

Issue 1 – Winter 2004/2005 (PDf document 161Kb)

Issue 2 – Summer 2005 (PDF document 23Kb)

Issue 3 - Spring 2006 (PDF document 53Kb)

Issue 4 - Winter 2007 (PDF document 45Kb)