Purpose

To see Cabinet approval to undertake public consultation on
the emerging Regulation 18 Local Plan: Full Update for a period of
at least 6 weeks.

Decision

 
Subject to the
inclusion of the agreed additional recommendations, that Officers
placed PDF maps alongside the text for each allocation in the Plan
and slight modification be made to one of the paragraphs in Chapter
12 of the Plan, it was:
 
RESOLVED THAT:
 

1)   
The Draft Local Plan (Regulation 18) set out in Appendix 1 to this
report be approved.
 

2)   
The Draft Plan included at Appendix 1 be published for consultation
for a period of at least 6 weeks.
 

3)   
Delegated authority be granted to the Director of Planning and
Building Control, in consultation with the Leader of the Council to
make any necessary typographical or other non-material changes to
Appendix 1 prior to publication for consultation.
 
 

Reasons for the decision

The Draft Local Plan proposed at Appendix 1 builds on the
extensive community engagement that has been ongoing since March
2023 and sets out a full draft Local Plan that incorporates a
series of options for strategic development and preferred options
for sustainable growth across the District.
 
The preparation of a Local Plan is a statutory requirement
and must follow a statutory procedure,
including public consultation and examination. If the Council were
to pursue a different approach, overall preparation of a new Local
Plan for Breckland would be substantially delayed leading to
potential risk in the ongoing management and delivery of
development in the District. Regard also
needs to be given to proposed change in
the Local Plan process, which the Council would need to undertake
if it misses the transition date of December 2026 for submission to
the Planning Inspectorate.

Alternative options considered

Option 1: Agree the proposed Draft Local Plan included at
Appendix 1 of this report for Consultation, provide delegated
authority for minor amendments to the Plan ahead of its publication
for consultation and agree to a minimum six-week consultation
period on the Plan.
 
Option 2: Alternatively, Cabinet could decide not to
undertake consultation on the draft Local Plan included
at Appendix 1 and request substantial
amendments to the Plan or seek a different approach.