Supplementary Planning Documents

Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) are produced to give detail about how particular Local Plan policies should be applied or interpreted in practice, providing further information to guide decisions on planning applications.

The six adopted SPDs are:

• North Quay Development Brief SPD
• Hall Quay Planning Brief SPD
• Shopfront Design Guide SPD
• Open Space SPD
• Coastal Adaptations SPD
• Great Yarmouth Design Code SPD

The Open Space Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) was adopted on 07 February 2023 and provides detailed advice for how new residential development should meet public open space requirements, in accordance with Policy H4 (opens new window) of the Local Plan Part 2. The guidance includes when and how on-site and off-site provision will be required, and how much it will cost. Please note that the off-site contributions within the document have been increased (as they are index linked to the Retail Prices Index) and the latest contributions must be used and these are available to view on our Planning obligations and developer contributions page.

• Open Space Supplementary Planning Document
• Open Space SPD adoption statement (OpenDocument text) [68KB] (opens new window)
• Open Space SPD consultation statement (OpenDocument text) [77KB] (opens new window)
• Open Space Strategic Environmental Assessment screening report
• Open Space SPD Habitat Regulations Assessment screening report (OpenDocument text) [48KB] (opens new window)

The Shopfront Design Guide SPD was adopted on 12 July 2022. The SPD provides broad design principles for shopfronts, as well as a detailed analysis of the separate design elements which make up a shopfront.  This includes advice and guidance on such matters as signage, illumination, colour, materials, pilaster, console brackets, and stall riser windows.

Please see the following documents for more information: 

• Shopfront Design Guide (PDF) [7MB] (opens new window)
• Shopfront Design Guide SPD Adoption Statement (OpenDocument text) [67KB] (opens new window)
• Shopfront Design Guide SPD Consultation Statement (OpenDocument text) [984KB] (opens new window)
• Strategic Environmental Assessment screening report: Shopfront Design Guide (PDF) [256KB] (opens new window)
• Habitats Regulation Assessment: Shopfront Design Guide (PDF) [202KB] (opens new window)

The Coastal Adaptation Supplementary Planning Document (opens new window) was adopted on 09 October 2023 and provides detailed guidance on how to interpret and carry out planning policy in relation to coastal matters.

The SPD (opens new window) covers the coast between Holkham and Felixstowe and has been prepared in partnership with the Borough Council, East Suffolk Council, North Norfolk District Council, The Broads Authority and the Coastal Partnership East Team.

• Coastal Adaptation SPD and supporting documents (opens new window)
• Coastal Adaptation Supplementary Planning Document Adoption Statement (OpenDocument text) [77KB] (opens new window)

The Great Yarmouth Design Code Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) was adopted on 29 January 2024 and provides further detail and guidance to support existing design based-policies in the adopted Local Plan Part 1 Core Strategy and Local Plan Part 2, including policies A2 and CS9.

The SPD provides clear principles and standards for how development should be designed in the borough, in order to create visually pleasing neighbourhoods, enhance community pride and fostering a sense of place. As a code, it also signposts users to other sources of regulation, guidance, assessment tools and best practice.

An interactive version of the Great Yarmouth Design Code SPD is available here: Great Yarmouth Design Code SPD

Please see the following documents for more information:

• Great Yarmouth Design Code SPD Adoption Statement
• Great Yarmouth Design Code SPD Consultation Statement
• Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) screening report
• Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) screening report

A PDF version of the Great Yarmouth Design Code SPD is available on request.

The North Quay Development Brief Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) was adopted on 19 July 2020 and helps to guide transformational regeneration of the North Quay area of Great Yarmouth, with the principal aim of creating a new, centrally located neighbourhood with strong connections to the town centre and waterfront. 

This supplementary planning document helps to support and interpret policy CS17 of the adopted  Local Plan Part 1 (Core Strategy) (PDF) [16MB] (opens new window) . Please see the following documents for more information: 

• North Quay Supplementary Planning Document
• North Quay SPD Adoption Statement (PDF) [193KB] (opens new window)
• North Quay SPD Consultation Statement (PDF) [2MB] (opens new window)
• North Quay SPD Strategic Environmental Assessment Screening Report (PDF) [343KB] (opens new window)
• North Quay SPD Habitats Regulations Assessment Screening Report (PDF) [486KB] (opens new window)

The Hall Quay Planning Brief SPD was adopted on 23 July 2019 and provides further detailed policy and guidance to principally unlock Hall Quay as a new food, beverage and cultural destination for Great Yarmouth.

This supplementary planning document supports and interprets policy CS7 of the adopted Local Plan Part 1 (Core Strategy) (PDF) [16MB] (opens new window) . Please see the following documents for more information. 

• Hall Quay Planning Brief SPD (2019) (PDF) [24MB] (opens new window)
• Hall Quay Planning Brief SPD (Appendix C - Individual Unit Summaries) (PDF) [2MB] (opens new window)
• Hall Quay Planning Brief SPD SEA Report (PDF) [104KB] (opens new window)
• Hall Quay Planning Brief SPD Adoption Statement (PDF) [15KB] (opens new window)
• Hall Quay Planning Brief SPD Consultation Statement (PDF) [146KB] (opens new window)