Norfolk Local Plans Update - 2026

Overview of Recent Planning Developments in Norfolk (2026 Update)

As an independent, Norfolk-based planning consultancy, Cedar Planning closely monitors changes to Local Plans, housing land supply positions and emerging consultations across the country.

The blog provides a clear and practical overview of the current and emerging planning position in:

• Greater Norwich (Norwich, South Norfolk & Broadland)

• King’s Lynn & West Norfolk

• Breckland

• North Norfolk

• Great Yarmouth

All information is correct at the time of publishing and is liable to change. Please contact Cedar Planning for an up to date assessment of the development potential of your site.

Greater Norwich (Norwich, South Norfolk and Broadland)

Current Position

The three Greater Norwich authorities jointly adopted the Greater Norwich Local Plan (GNLP) covering the period 2018 - 2038.

The Plan:

• Provides for 45,041 new homes

• Supports 33,000 additional jobs

The Norwich Urban Area sits at the top of the Settlement Hierarchy and includes Norwich and the built up parts of the following fringe parishes; Colney, Costessey, Cringleford, Drayton, Easton, Hellesdon, Old Catton, Sprowston, Taverham, Thorpe St. Andrew, Trowse and the remainder of the Growth Triangle.

Approximately 15% of total growth is directed to the Main Towns of:

• Aylesham

• Diss (including parts of Roydon)

• Long Straton

• Harleston

• Wymondham

Further development is directed to Key Service Centres and Village Clusters.

A minimum of 1,200 homes are allocated through the South Norfolk Village Clusters Housing Site Allocation Plan.

As of July 2025, the Greater Norwich Authorities report a 4.85-year housing land supply, meaning they cannot demonstrate a full 5-year supply. This engages paragraph 11 of the NPPF for housing proposals.

However, development across much of the area continues to be frustrated by delays from the Nitrate Neutrality requirements, following Natural England's advice.

Emerging Local Plan and Call for Sites (2026)

The Greater Norwich Authorities have begun work on a review of the Greater Norwich Local Plan.

Due to changes to the Government's revised Standard Method for calculating housing need, the new plan will need to accommodate approximately 500 additional dwellings each year above current levels.

A Call for Sites Consultation is currently open, closing 23 March 2026. Interested landowners can submit sites to be assessed for allocations in the emerging plan.

If you own land in the Greater Norwich area, this is a critical window of opportunity. More information on this process can be found on our dedicated Greater Norwich Call for Sites page.

King's Lynn and West Norfolk

The King's Lynn and West Norfolk Local Plan was adopted by the Council in March 2025 and runs to 2040.

Key Figures:

• 12,438 dwellings (2021 - 2040)

• Approximately 85 hectares of employment land

King's Lynn is the primary focus for growth, with additional development directed to:

• Main Towns

• Settlements adjoining King's Lynn

• Market Towns

• Key Service Centres

• Rural Villages

Policy LP02 of the Plan, which permits some development outside of larger settlements (subject to criteria).

The Council's latest Local Development Scheme (March 2025) sets out an indicative timetable for the production of a revised Local Plan. The LDS states that work will commence in Autumn 2025, however at the time of writing their LDS the Council were still awaiting revised guidance from the Government.

The Council's latest 5-year land supply position shows a 7.9-year supply. The Council can demonstrate an 87% result in the Housing Delivery Test, and as such the presumption in favour of sustainable development is not engaged.

Breckland

Adopted by the Council in September 2023, the Breckland Local Plan identifies:

• Attleborough and Thetford as key growth settlements

• Dereham, Swaffham and Watton as Market Towns

A major strategic allocation includes an urban expansion of Attleborough to accommodate 4,000 dwellings.

Rural Opportunities

Policy HOU 03 and HOU 04 provide:

• Opportunities outside Local Service Centre boundaries (where supply is insufficient against plan targets)

• Limited growth in smaller villages

• A cap of "significantly more than 5%" growth since adoption

The Council's latest 5-year land supply position shows just a 2.82 year supply of deliverable housing land, and as such paragraph 11 of the NPPF is engaged for housing sites.

North Norfolk

Adopted on 17 December 2025, the Plan seeks to deliver approximately:

• 8,900 dwellings to 2040

Settlement Hierarchy

Large Growth Towns (45% of growth):

• North Walsham

• Fakenham

• Cromer

Small Growth Towns (15% of growth):

• Holt

• Hoverton

• Sheringham

• Stalham

• Wells next the Sea

More limited levels of growth are planned for 'Large Growth Villages' (such as Blakeney and Ludham) and 'Small Growth Villages' (such as Badersfield, East & West Runton and Happisburgh).

National Planning Policy Framework indicates that affordable housing should not normally be required on schemes of 10 or fewer dwellings, or site areas less than 0.5 hectares. North Norfolk contains many parishes which are Designated Rural Areas where affordable housing is sought for smaller schemes of 6 dwellings, instead of the normal 10 dwellings.

The Council's latest 5-year land supply position shows a supply of more than 7 years supply of deliverable housing land. As such, paragraph 11 of the NPPF is not engaged for housing sites.

Great Yarmouth

Current Position

The existing Great Yarmouth Local Plan is made up of two parts:

• Core Strategy (Local Plan Part 1 - adopted in 2015)

• Local Plan Part 2 (adopted in 2021).

When adopting the Part 2 Plan, some alterations were made to the Part 1 Core Strategy. Policy USC3 of the Part 2 Plan sets a housing requirement of at least 7,140 new homes over the plan period. This includes two strategic housing sites of approximately 1,000 dwellings at the Great Yarmouth Waterfront Area and the Beacon Park Extension, South Bradwell.

Policy CS2 of the Core Strategy seeks to deliver 35% of the housing requirement in the borough's Main Towns of Gorleston-on-Sea and Great Yarmouth. Approximately 30% of new development will take place in Primary Villages (such as Hemsby and Hopton on Sea). A small level of growth (5%) is directed towards Secondary and Tertiary Villages which are named within the Settlement Hierarchy.

The latest 5-year land supply position shows a supply of 5.82 years of housing land supply.

Emerging Local Plan

The emerging Great Yarmouth Local Plan was submitted for Examination on 24 February 2025. In December 2025 the Planning Inspectors wrote to the Council setting out that they currently consider that the Plan can be adopted subject to a number of modifications. The next stage of the Examination will be a consultation on the proposed modifications to the submitted plan.

Thinking About Promoting Land in Norfolk?

If you:

• Own land on the edge of a settlement

• Have previously been refused planning permission

• Want to respond to a Call for Sites consultation

• Are considering a speculative housing application

Now is the time to take professional advice.

At Cedar Planning, we:

• Undertake site appraisals

• Advise on Local Plan promotion

• Prepare planning statements

• Submit planning applications

• Represent clients at appeal

Contact us today for a no-obligation initial review of your site and its development potential.

Whether your land is in Norwich, Diss, Harleston, King’s Lynn, Attleborough or Great Yarmouth — we can help you understand the opportunities and risks before you invest further time and money.