South Norfolk Village Clusters Housing Allocations Plan
Next steps after the Consultation on Alternative Sites & Focused Changes (Regulation 18)
Background
The VCHAP is a Local Plan document which, once adopted, will become part of the Development Plan for South Norfolk. The plan will identify sites for housing in South Norfolk’s villages, and will allocate sites for the majority of the ‘at least 1,200 new homes’ that are to be delivered in the district’s village clusters by 2038. The remaining sites are being allocated through the Neighbourhood Plans for Diss and District and Dickleburgh and Rushall.
Consultation on Alternative Sites & Focused Changes (Regulation 18)
South Norfolk Council recently carried out a consultation on alternative sites and focused changes, in relation to the emerging Village Clusters Housing Allocations Plan (VCHAP). The consultation ended on Monday 5 February 2024. This consultation only related to a small number of sites in the parishes listed below:
| Alpington | Earsham |
| Barford | Gillingham |
| Barnham Broom | Swardeston |
| Bawburgh | Spooner Row |
| Broome | Tacolneston |
| Ditchingham | Wicklewood |
This consultation followed the Regulation 19 publication of the draft VCHAP that was held between January and March 2023. Since reviewing representations submitted at that stage, it had become apparent that one of the sites (VC ROC2, Rockland St Mary) is no longer deliverable and that another site should be slightly reduced in numbers to address heritage concerns (VC TAS1, Tasburgh). The consultation on alternative sites and focused changes sought to make up the resulting shortfall in order to deliver the housing numbers needed. The remainder of the January 2023 Regulation 19 document was not part of this consultation.
A Virtual Exhibition provides further background information and supporting material relating to the VCHAP and can be accessed at https://vchap.exhibition.app
You can also view our interactive map, illustrating the proposals, here.
Current stage
The Council is in the process of reviewing the responses made at the consultation and deciding on which sites to take forward. The Council will then incorporate these focused changes into the draft VCHAP through the publication of the proposed final Plan document. At this Regulation-19 consultation the Council will invite formal representations on soundness, legal compliance and the duty to cooperate. This stage is currently scheduled for June-July 2024. Following this, the Council will decide whether to formally submit the Plan to the Secretary of State, for independent examination. It is currently expected that an examination will be held during 2025 with the plan being adopted later in that year.
Contact details
For further information and enquiries, please contact the Council’s Place Shaping Team on 01508 533805 or at localplan.snc@southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk.