Norfolk

A mixed Plan-Making picture across Norfolk as the proposed NPPF revisions cause Breckland to pause work, whilst North Norfolk and Great Yarmouth are under pressure to proceed at pace in an attempt to avoid higher housing targets. 

Across Norfolk the Government’s proposed planning reforms would mean a significant increase in housing targets for all Authorities under the proposed new Standard Method for calculating housing need.  However, the proposed transitional arrangements mean that most will avoid the higher housing figures for the moment.  Undoubtedly the hardest hit District is Breckland, where the possibility of an almost 50% increase in the housing target has led to a pause in Plan-making.  When work resumes, there are likely to be good opportunities to promote additional land. Elsewhere, opportunities are more limited but North Norfolk have found themselves under pressure to quickly agree revisions to their examined Plan in order to ensure that they are not caught by increased housing supply targets, and Great Yarmouth are also progressing at pace in the hope of avoiding a significant uplift in housing targets. We understand a review of the GNLP will commence in 2025 once the revised NPPF has been brought forward.

Five-Year Land Supply

Within Norfolk, the main opportunities are likely to be found in Breckland, whose Plan becomes out-of-date in November 2024, and where the housing target is likely to increase significantly under the new Government’s proposed reforms.  The rest of the Authorities are likely to be protected from the uplift in housing targets due to their relatively advanced positions in the Plan-making process, but if the requirement to consider 5YLS on an annual basis is reintroduced to the NPPF, areas such as Greater Norwich may find themselves under pressure as Nutrient Neutrality delays continue to impact delivery of planning permissions.