The meeting scheduled to take place on Tuesday 17 December 2024, will include a discussion about how the council makes decisions on planning applications, information about the buildings, monuments and conservation areas that Historic England considers to be at risk in Breckland, and a report on the council's spending on local infrastructure. The committee will also be asked to make decisions on several planning applications.

The Strength of Planning Policy in Determining Planning Applications

This document is a short guide to Breckland Council's Local Plan, which was adopted in 2019.

It explains what the Local Plan is, how it relates to national planning law and policy, and why it carries significant weight when the council makes planning decisions. It also explains how the council has to consider local housing need¹ when it decides on planning applications, and why it sometimes disagrees with the views of local councils and members of the public on planning applications.

Historic England Heritage at Risk Report for Breckland 2024

Historic England maintains a register of the historic buildings and sites in England that it considers to be at risk. It produces a report about the condition of the sites on the register every year.

The 2024 report for Breckland identifies 11 buildings and structures, 14 places of worship, 2 archaeological sites, and 2 Conservation Areas that it considers to be at risk. The report pack for the meeting contains a summary of the report, focusing on those sites for which Breckland council is responsible for granting statutory consent. They are:

• Shadwell Court and Clock Tower in Brettenham, which is a Grade I listed country house. Historic England states that the house has been affected by severe dry rot, but that extensive roof repairs have been undertaken. The report pack states that the council and Historic England have been in dialogue with the owner of the property since the roof repairs were carried out, and that this has resulted in the phased scheduled repair of the stable yard and the clock tower.
• Dereham Maltings on Norwich Road in Dereham, which is a Grade II* listed complex of maltings². Historic England states that the maltings are disused and vacant, and that a proposal to build houses on part of the land and bring the maltings back into use has been put forward. The report pack states that initial works have been carried out to the maltings, and that permission has been granted for a fuller program of repairs and refurbishment. It also notes that a local business has been in discussion with the council and Historic England to discuss a mixed adaptive reuse of the building.
• Guntons Farmhouse on Reymerstone Road in Garvestone/Reymerstone, which is a Grade II* listed timber-framed manor house. Historic England states that the farmhouse has been affected by a lack of repairs, leading to areas of decay. The report pack states that the council and Historic England have been in discussion with the owners about a repair strategy, and that full formal approvals for repairs and reinstatement have been granted.
• The Windmill on Green Lane in Old Buckenham, which is a Grade II* listed brick tower mill. Historic England states that the windmill is now in working order with a reinstated cap and sails, but that there is extensive cracking and bulging of the brickwork. The report pack states that a repair programme has begun, with phase one, to repair the brick tower, now completed.
• The Church of St Mary the Less on Bury Road in Thetford, which is a Grade II* listed former church. Historic England states that the church is in poor condition and has suffered from heritage crime. The report pack states that a revised set of proposals for residential use has been negotiated and agreed with the owner, the council and Historic England.
• The Church of St Peter in Thetford, which is a Grade II* listed former parish church. Historic England states that the church is now redundant and owned by Thetford Town Council and let for community use. It also states that the north aisle roof is leaking and that there is noticeable structural movement in the south buttresses of the nave.
• Dereham Conservation Area. Historic England notes that a Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan³ is being prepared for Dereham, and that it is due to be completed in 2025. The report pack states that Dereham Conservation Area was added to the Heritage at Risk register without consultation, and that it is not in markedly worse condition than any of the other Conservation Areas in Breckland. It also states that, once the appraisal and management plan is complete, the council will recommend that Dereham Conservation Area be removed from the register.
• Thetford Conservation Area. Historic England notes that a Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan has been prepared for Thetford, and is pending formal approval and publication. The report pack states that Thetford Conservation Area was added to the Heritage at Risk register without consultation, and that it is not in markedly worse condition than any of the other Conservation Areas in Breckland. It also states that, once the appraisal and management plan is formally adopted, the council will recommend that Thetford Conservation Area be removed from the register.

Breckland's Infrastructure Funding Statement 2024

The Infrastructure Funding Statement (IFS) is a report that explains how much money the council has received from developers and how that money has been spent. The IFS for 2024 covers the financial year from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.

The report pack includes information about how the council uses Section 106 agreements and the Community Infrastructure Levy to ensure that new development contributes to local infrastructure.

The report states that the council received £1,060,201.64 in contributions from developers during the year, and that this was allocated or spent on:

• Open space, sport, and recreation: £404,395.07
• Affordable housing: £477,216.36
• Healthcare: £235,070.25
• Waste management: £28,060.19
• A village hall in Wretham: £95,752.64

Schedule of Planning Applications

7 White Hart Street, Foulden

The report pack contains a report on a planning application for the change of use and extension of a disused public house in Foulden to create 3 dwellings and 2 detached cart lodges.

The White Hart was listed as an Asset of Community Value in July 2020. Assets of Community Value can be nominated by local community groups, and give those groups the right to bid for the asset if it is put up for sale. The report pack notes that the property was marketed for sale as a public house between February and August 2024, but that no offers were received.

Planning officers have recommended that the application be refused, as they consider that the applicant has not demonstrated that the public house is unviable. The council’s previous refusals of planning permission for the site have also been dismissed on appeal.

Works to the Northeast of Necton

The report pack contains a report on a planning application to approve the detailed design of the Norfolk Vanguard West and Norfolk Vanguard East onshore converter stations near Necton.

The converter stations form part of the Norfolk Vanguard offshore wind farm, which was granted development consent by the Secretary of State in February 2022. Because it is a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project, the wind farm was approved under a Development Consent Order, rather than through the normal planning process.

The converter stations convert the electricity generated by the wind farm from high-voltage direct current (HVDC) to high-voltage alternating current (HVAC), which can then be fed into the National Grid. They will be located to the east of the existing Necton substation, which is operated by the National Grid.

The report pack notes that the applicant has carried out extensive consultation with the council, local parish councils, and members of the public on the design of the converter stations. It also notes that the applicant has taken a holistic approach to the design of the converter stations, considering their impact on the landscape in combination with the onshore substation for the Norfolk Boreas offshore wind farm, which is located nearby.

Planning officers have recommended that the application be approved, as they consider that the detailed design of the converter stations is acceptable.

Watton Sports Centre, Dereham Road, Watton

The report pack contains a report on a planning application for the installation of a steel-reinforced concrete skate park at Watton Sports Centre.

The report pack notes that the proposal would enhance the existing offer of sport and recreation facilities at the sports centre. It also notes that Sport England has raised no objection to the application, subject to a planning condition to protect the playing fields at the sports centre.

Planning officers have recommended that the application be approved, subject to a number of conditions, including conditions relating to noise, lighting, and the management of the skate park.

Applications Determined by the Deputy Chief Executive

The report pack contains a list of planning applications that have been determined by the Deputy Chief Executive under delegated powers⁴. This list includes applications for new housing, changes of use, and the discharge of planning conditions.

Appeals Summary

The report pack contains a list of planning appeals that have been decided by the Planning Inspectorate. This list includes appeals against the council’s refusal of planning permission, and appeals against the council’s decision to grant planning permission subject to conditions.

All of the appeals listed in the report pack were dismissed.