Swanton Morley Neighbourhood Plan and Review

Latest news

The Neighbourhood Plan has now been 'Made' (approved).

Consultation on the Review of the Plan (Regulation 16) Plan is underway.

Consultation on the Regulation 16 Plan

Breckland is carrying out a public consultation on the Swanton Morley Neighbourhood Plan Review Submission Draft (Regulation 16).

This consultation is open for 8 weeks from Monday 15 December 2025 to Friday 6 February 2026 at 17:00.

Swanton Morley Parish Council have submitted the final version of their Neighbourhood Plan Review (Regulation 15 submission version) to Breckland District Council so that a public consultation on the document can take place. We are keen to hear the views of people who live, work, and carry out business in the area.

Once 'made' (adopted) the Neighbourhood Plan Review will become part of the development plan and be used by Breckland District Council when deciding planning applications in this area.

The submission Neighbourhood Plan Review and supporting documents

• SMNP Review 2025 Exam (PDF, 21 MB)(opens new window)

Several evidence base documents support the Neighbourhood Plan Review, and these can be viewed for information:

• SEA Assessment & Opinion SMNP Review 2025 (PDF, 3 MB)(opens new window)
• HRA Screening Opinion Review 2025 (PDF, 3 MB)(opens new window)
• SMNP tracked changes Review 2025 Exam (PDF, 8 MB)(opens new window)
• Consultation Statement Review 2025 (PDF, 11 MB)(opens new window)
• Basic Conditions Statement Review 2025 (PDF, 3 MB)(opens new window)

What can be commented on?

Comments are invited regarding whether the plan proposal fulfils the basic conditions, (Paragraph 8, Schedule 4B Town and Country Planning Act (as amended)).

Representations received under Regulation 16 regarding the plan proposal will be forwarded to an Independent Examiner, who will assess the Swanton Morley Neighbourhood Plan Review and supporting documents against basic conditions.

The basic conditions require that the plan:

• Has regard to national policy and guidance from the Secretary of State.
• Contributes to sustainable development.
• Is in general conformity with the strategic policies of the development plan for the area or any part of that area.
• Does not breach or is otherwise compatible with EU obligations - this includes the SEA Directive of 2001/42/EC.
• The making of the Neighbourhood Plan is not likely to have a significant effect on a European site (as defined in the Conservation of Habitats and Species regulations 2010(d), either alone or in combination with other plans or projects.

How you can comment:

Responses must be submitted in writing and cannot be accepted if anonymous. All information received is public information (subject to the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). View further information regarding GDPR and privacy.

Comments submitted by:

• Email to planning.policyteam@breckland.gov.uk
• Post to Planning Policy Team Breckland Council, Elizabeth House, Walpole Loke, Dereham, Norfolk, NR19 1EE.

Responses must be received before 17:00 on Friday 6 February 2026.

What happens next:

Following the end of the consultation, Breckland Council will work with Swanton Morley Parish Council to appoint an Independent Examiner for the plan proposal. The consultation responses will be considered in determining whether the plan is ready to proceed to a public referendum before adoption, or if further modifications are required.

If you would like to be notified of Breckland's decision on the Swanton Morley Neighbourhood Plan Review Submission, please advise us in your response. The council's decision on the plan proposal will be publicised on our website following the plan's examination.

Date of Each Stage

• Designation Date: 6 July 2015
• Regulation 14 draft plan consultation started: 12 January 2017
• Regulation 16 plan consultation started: 12 January 2017 
• Plan sent for examination: 19 September 2017
• Modification consultation started: 18 January 2019 
• Plan sent for second examination: 2 March 2019 
• Date of referendum: 14 November 2019
• Date Plan 'Made': 6 December 2019

Made Neighbourhood Plan (Final version)

As a result of a vote in support of using the Swanton Morley Neighbourhood Plan to make decision on planning applications in the District, Breckland Council decided 'make' (approve) the Plan on the 6 December 2019. Please note that this is the referendum version of the plan.Swanton Morley Neighbourhood Plan - Final version (PDF, 17 MB)(opens new window) 

Referendum on the Neighbourhood Plan

The Neighbourhood Plan Referendum was held on Thursday 14 November 2019.

Swanton Morley Referendum documents

Declaration of Result of Poll (PDF, 259 KB)(opens new window)

Second Examination

The Independent Examination on the Modification Consultation started on 11 March 2019 and the Independent Examiner requested further information in a letter concerning the Examination scope and clarification of issues. This is found below with the council's and parish's responses:

•  Examiners Letter (PDF, 395 KB)(opens new window)
•  Parish Response (PDF, 224 KB)(opens new window)

The Examiner issued his final Report on 18 September 2019 and Breckland Council made its decision on it on the 26 September 2019. Breckland Council has accepted all the modifications in the Examiners Report. All these reports are found below:

• SMNP 2nd Examination Decision Statement (Reg.18) (PDF, 215 KB)(opens new window)
• SMNP 2nd Final Examination Decision Report (PDF, 208 KB)(opens new window)
• SMNP 2nd Final Examination Decision Report - Appendix A (PDF, 215 KB)(opens new window)
• SMNP Final Examination Report 18.09.19 (PDF, 1 MB)(opens new window) andAppendixes F (PDF, 582 KB)(opens new window)

Examination

The Independent Examination started on 25 September. The Independent Examiner issued a letter regarding the examinations procedural matters and requested further information from the Parish Council. These are found below:

• Swanton Morley Procedural letter (PDF, 302 KB)(opens new window)
• Swanton Morley Initial Examiners Questions (PDF, 308 KB)(opens new window)
• Parish Council Response (PDF, 1 MB)(opens new window)

The Examiners Report on the Neighbourhood plan was received on the 19 January 2018. This Report is currently being considered by Breckland Council. The decision date has been extended until 18 June 2018 by agreement with the parish council.

• SMNP Independent Examiners Report (PDF, 471 KB)(opens new window)

Submission Consultation (Reg.16)

Breckland Council have conducted the Submission consultation.

The consultation started on Friday 21 July 2017 and closed on Friday 1 September 2017.

• Swanton Morley Neighbourhood Plan (PDF, 9 MB)(opens new window)
• SMNP Basic Conditions Statement (PDF, 1 MB)(opens new window)
• SMNP Consultation Statement (PDF, 9 MB)(opens new window)
• SMNP Sustainability Appraisal (PDF, 3 MB)(opens new window)
• SMNP Habitat Regulations Assessment (PDF, 2 MB)(opens new window)

Pre-submission Consultation (Reg.14)

Swanton Morley Parish Council have conducted their Pre-submission consultation.

The consultation started on Thursday 12 January 2017 and closed on Friday 24 February 2017.

• SMNP - Reg.14 version (PDF, 8 MB)(opens new window)

Area Designation

Swanton Morley Parish Council applied to designate a neighbourhood area on 28 May 2015.

Parishes included within the neighbourhood area: Swanton Morley.

• Neighbourhood Plan Decision notice (PDF, 29 KB)(opens new window)
• Neighbourhood Plan Area Statement (PDF, 103 KB)(opens new window)
• Neighbourhood Plan Area Map (PDF, 160 KB)(opens new window)