Diss Town Council has prepared a multi-parish, cross-county Neighbourhood Plan with the surrounding parishes of Burston and Shimpling, Roydon and Scole (in South Norfolk District) and Brome and Oakley, Palgrave and Stuston (in Mid Suffolk District). It will be used to help guide and shape future development across the whole plan area.

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The Diss and District Neighbourhood Plan was made (adopted) by South Norfolk Council and Mid-Suffolk District Council on 16 October 2023, following a local referendum on Thursday 28 September, where 84% of those voting did so in favour of the Plan.

The Neighbourhood Plan now forms part of the statutory Development Plan for both South Norfolk Council and Mid-Suffolk District Council areas, and will be used in the determination of planning applications within the neighbourhood area.

Please view the adopted Neighbourhood Plan and related documents by clicking on the ‘documents’ link, below.

Background

Diss Town Council (as the ‘qualifying body’) submitted the Diss and District Neighbourhood Plan (DDNP) and other required documents to both South Norfolk Council and Mid Suffolk District Council in July 2022. A consultation, in accordance with Regulation 16 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations, 2012 (as amended), was subsequently carried out by both local planning authorities, which finished on 16 December 2022.

Mr Andrew Ashcroft (Andrew Ashcroft Planning Ltd) was appointed to carry out an independent examination of the DDNP following this consultation period. This was able to proceed using the submitted Neighbourhood Plan documents, the made representations, and the responses from the DDNP Working Group and the two Councils on matters for clarification.

On 19 May 2023, the Examiner issued his final report. It contains a number of recommended modifications and states that, subject to these being implemented, the DDNP meets the basic conditions and that it should proceed to a local referendum.

South Norfolk Council and Mid Suffolk District Council subsequently issued a joint Decision Statement detailing their intention to send the Neighbourhood Plan to a referendum, subject to modifications being made as specified by the examiner.

The referendum was held on 28 September 2023, where 84% of those voting did so in favour of the Neighbourhood Plan.

View the Neighbourhood Plan documents.