Neighbourhood Planning – Weybourne Parish Council

CURRENT NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN STATUS

After receiving a positive response at a public meeting on 2 October 2024 to gauge if our community supported the development and adoption of a Neighbourhood Plan (NP) for our parish, it was formally agreed to apply at the next Weybourne Parish Council meeting and an application form was sent to North Norfolk District Council (NNDC).

NNDC formally approved the APPLICATION TO DESIGNATE WEYBOURNE NEIGHBOURHOOD AREA on 13th December 2024. This covers the whole parish and the information is available on the NNDC website.

We have since worked with NNDC are are able to publish the resources we were offered to help with the process, please see links below:-

The NNDC guidance documents which were referred to in the meeting can be found here (click on Advice and Guidance tab)

The National Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) for neighbourhood planning can be found here

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) can be found here

The Locality neighbourhood planning guidance and support starts on these pages here. A series of useful guides by subject are available if you highlight the resources TAB and then click on the toolkit and guidance.

As part of continued dialogue with NNDC we were advised that a map of possible building sites was created in 2017 in support of NNDC’s new local plan, that is currently in the process of being agreed for the next 15 years. This can be found on the following link

https://www.north-norfolk.gov.uk/media/8452/helaa-part-1-appendix-7-site-maps.pdf

You may need to search for Weybourne as this includes maps for the whole of the NNDC area.

Note none of these areas are approved as building sites, but this is where the planners thought housing could be built. As part of the NP process we believe that all potential sites will need to be reviewed as this was carried out about 8 years ago.

A NP gives a community a say in what and how is built in their specific area. It needs to add fine detail to the NNDC LOCAL PLAN, Norfolk County Council plans, Government Plans and Building Regulations.

We have canvassed various other local parishes and councils for advice on a consultancy firm to help us with this process.

We have now agreed to use Rachel Leggett & Associates (website https://www.rachelleggett.co.uk/) subject to us getting a grant from the government. They are due to start the formal work in January 2026.

From our public meeting last year, the ongoing conversations we have with our community and advice from NNDC, your NP committee have created the following :

Weybourne Neighbourhood Plan – Vision and Objectives

Vision

To protect and enhance the character and identity of the Parish of Weybourne and to ensure any development opportunities are sustainable and appropriate to the scale and nature of the Parish, respecting its historic and rural character.

1. Housing Objective

To ensure future housing (new build, conversions and modifications) responds to needs of the local community, is of a high standard of passive design, and fits well into the context of the Community in terms of type, mix, scale and character. Focus on new houses only being used as principal homes.

2. Transport Objective

To promote safe public streets and spaces; reduce traffic volumes through more accessible and beneficial sustainable transport links (including footpaths and cycle routes); and ensure appropriate parking solutions which are sensitive to the village’s unique character.

3. Business and Commercial Objective

To sustain and enhance a thriving range of community and commercial activities and services in Weybourne.

4. Environment Objective

To place high value on the landscape setting of the Parish and to seek protection and enhancement of this central element of Weybourne’s character, including key gateways, views and vistas, retention of trees and hedgerows and local wildlife habitats. To ensure dark night skies over Weybourne are maintained and reduce the impact of light pollution.

5. Leisure and Recreation Objective

To improve the leisure and recreation opportunities for residents of all ages by encouraging provision of open space and children’s play facilities to promote wellbeing. To protect existing assets such as the village hall and other community buildings and spaces used for community events.

6. Design and Heritage Objective

To identify, protect and enhance Weybourne’s heritage assets and key public spaces. Ensure that any future development is sympathetic to the existing character of the Parish in attractive, environmental and innovative ways.

With the new government yet to fully announce detailed updated building targets, the consensus is that it will only push up the current NNDC LOCAL PLAN requirement of 20 houses for Weybourne, coupled with the uncertainty around the yet to be agreed local government devolution process, having a NP is the best way for our community to have a say in our future development.

If you would like to help make our community NP plan a reality please contact the parish clerk, any volunteers would be greatly appreciated.