Adopted Local Plan

The council's planning policy documents set the strategic context for development in the District. These include governing the decisions made on planning applications and which types of development are suitable for each area. It is a key document that guides development in the District over the next 20 years.

The National Planning Policy Framework sets an expectation that each Local Planning Authority (LPA) should produce a single Local Plan which sets out the strategic planning priorities for the District.

Following the Examination in April 2023, the Council received the final Inspector's Report in respect of the Examination of the Partial Update and the Inspector found the review to be 'sound'. The Breckland Local Plan (as amended by the Partial Update) was adopted at Council on 21 September 2023.

The Report of the Inspector into the Partial Update together with the Adoption Statement and Sustainability Appraisal post Adoption Statement can be viewed here:

The Local Plan (2023) document can be viewed below.

If you have not previously registered and would like to be kept informed of future consultations, please complete theConsultee Database Eform. Please provide:

Your contact details.
Which company or organisation you represent (if applicable), or let us know if you are a member of the public.
Which planning policy documents you are interested in and wish to be consulted on.

The council has received the Report of the Inspector on the Breckland Local Plan. This is available below:

The examination into the Breckland Local Plan has now been completed, and the Plan was adopted by the council in November 2019.

The documents relating to the examination can be viewed below.

The Site Specifics Policies and Proposals DPD, adopted in early 2012, allocates areas of land for different uses to deliver the requirements of the Breckland Core Strategy and thus meet the development needs of the District up to 2026.

Land has been allocated for new housing, employment, retail and open space. As well as proposals for the allocation of land for specific types of development, the document sets out requirements, where appropriate, for development briefs and concept statements. Furthermore, the document has also reviewed Settlement Boundaries in the District in line with the Core Policies contained within the adopted Core Strategy and Development Control Policies DPD.

The Site Specific Policies and Proposals DPD covers the entire District with the exception of Thetford, Attleborough and Snetterton Heath including the parishes of Besthorpe, Snetterton and Quidenham. Allocations in Thetford have been made through the Thetford Area Action Plan (TAAP), adopted in 2012. However, production of the Attleborough and Snetterton Heath Area Action Plan (ASHAAP) has ceased and therefore future allocations in these areas will be addressed through the new district wide Local Plan. Please see the entry below for more details on the ASHAAP.

The following policies will continue to be applicable and used alongside the adopted local plan policies: D1, D2, D5, D6, SW1, SW2 and SW3.

Site Specific Policies and Proposals Development Plan Document 2012 (PDF) [2MB]

The Thetford Area Action Plan Development Plan Document and Policies maps contain land allocations for growth in Thetford of 5,000 houses and 5,000 jobs as well as the specific policies to guide the growth and regeneration of the town.

The Thetford Area Action Plan (TAAP) was formally adopted by Breckland Council on 5 July 2012 following the Planning Inspectorate's finding that the Plan was sound and legally compliant.

Following a legal challenge to the adoption of the TAAP, High Court hearings were held on 26 and 27 November 2012. The judgement handed down by Mr Justice Beatson on 12 January 2013 dismissed the legal challenge. The TAAP, therefore, continues to carry full weight in determining planning applications in the Thetford area.

The following policies will continue to be applicable and used alongside adopted local plan policies: TH2, TH4, TH5, TH6, TH7, TH9, TH11, TH12, TH18, TH20, TH21, TH22, TH23, TH25, TH26, TH27, TH28, TH29, TH30, TH31, TH32, TH33, TH34, TH35, TH37.

The following documents are transport evidence for TAAP:

Planning authorities are required to prepare Annual Monitoring Reports to monitor how we are performing in implementing the Local Development Scheme, and progress in achieving Local Development Framework aims and objectives.

The key objectives of the Breckland SCI are:

To help secure community ownership of future planning policy documents (emerging Local Plan).
To strengthen public involvement in the process of determining planning applications put before the District Council.

The council's first SCI was adopted in 2006 and was prepared under previous planning regulations. In recognition of key changes to the legislation governing the preparation of planning policy, the council has now revised its SCI. This has also enabled the SCI to reflect technological developments and improve the methods of communication used by the council to engage with the local community.

To develop the SCI, the council invited your views during a public consultation between April and May 2022. Following this, the new SCI was adopted by Breckland Council on 25 July 2022, which supersedes the 2013 version.

Applicants are encouraged to review the contents of the SCI at an early stage and start to involve the community before they have submitted a planning application. It is expected that applicants will show that they have presented information about applicable planning policy and guidance and the effects of the proposed development in a balanced and factual manner. Early discussions with planning officers are also advised.

The adopted Statement of Community Involvement (2022) and a schedule of representations received including officer recommendations may be found below.

Statement of Community Involvement 2022 (PDF) [372KB] (opens new window)

Should you have any questions or queries about the contents of this page, please email us (planningpolicyteam@breckland.gov.uk).

We've made some updates to our website!

Adoption

Inspector's Report

Examination and Evidence Base

Site Specific Policies and Proposals

Thetford Area Action Plan (TAAP)

Annual Monitoring Report

Statement of Community Involvement

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