Neighbourhood planning

A neighbourhood plan is a formal plan about development and use of land and can be prepared by a local community (usually a parish council). Once adopted, a neighbourhood plan's policies are used to help decide planning applications in the area.

Adopted neighbourhood plans

• Filby Neighbourhood Plan
• Fleggburgh Neighbourhood Plan
• Hemsby Neighbourhood Plan
• Rollesby Neighbourhood Plan
• Winterton-on-Sea Neighbourhood Plan

Neighbourhood plans under preparation 

• Belton with Browston, Burgh Castle and Fritton with St Olaves neighbourhood plan - under preparation
• Hopton-on-Sea Neighbourhood Plan - not being progressed 
• Ormesby St Margaret with Scratby Neighbourhood Plan - under preparation  

The following map shows currently designated neighbourhood plan areas: 

• Currently designated neighbourhood plan areas (PDF) [582KB] (opens new window)

A neighbourhood plan is prepared for a community by an organisation (also known as the 'neighbourhood body'), which in most cases within the Borough will be the parish council. However, in un-parished parts of the Borough, other organisations such as a neighbourhood forum or another community organisation may be formed, and would need to apply to the Council to take the lead.

It is good practice for the parish council to set up a working group to lead on the preparation of the plan and this can comprise members of the community that are not on the parish council. The relationship between the parish council and the working group should be clear and transparent and this can be formalised with terms of reference. It is ultimately for the parish council, as the neighbourhood body, to make key decisions such as when to formally consult or submit the neighbourhood plan.

Neighbourhood bodies may consider working with consultants to help them prepare their plans. Before seeking such support, neighbourhood plan bodies should have ideas on both the planning issues that they would like to address and the requirement they may have for consultants undertaking work on their behalf. In deciding which consultants to work with, parish councils may also wish to consider their knowledge and experience by looking at other plans that consultants have worked on and records of professional accreditation (such as membership to the Royal Town Planning Institute). In securing a consultant, an agreement should set out the clear expectations of the work and the timeframe over which the work will be delivered (subject to reviews as appropriate).

Further neighbourhood planning guides are also available from other external organisations listed below:

• Locality (opens new window)
• Norfolk County Council (opens new window)
• Neighbourhood Planning Independent Examiner Referral Service (NPIERS) (opens new window)
• Planning Advisory Service (PAS) (opens new window)
• Historic England (opens new window)
• Anglian Water (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)

The following downloadable guide sets out in general terms how the Borough Council will provide advice and assistance to those preparing neighbourhood plans. This guide has been organised under the main stages of neighbourhood planning, and also guides communities through the variety of responsibilities and decision making that will need to be addressed when preparing a plan.

In practice, the types and amount of evidence and assistance will depend to a large extent on the wishes of the body preparing the neighbourhood plan, and the issues it faces.

• Neighbourhood Plan Advice & Assistance (GYBC) (PDF) [563KB] (opens new window)

The Statement of Community Involvement (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)  includes a section which sets out the support the Council will offer to qualifying bodies in undertaking a Neighbourhood Plan. 

• Statement of Community Involvement (November 2020) (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)