Hingham Neighbourhood Plan

Hingham Town Council submitted a Neighbourhood Area application to South Norfolk Council in September 2021. The area proposed was the whole civil parish and, in accordance with Regulation 5A of the 'Town and Country Planning, England - Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012', South Norfolk Council confirmed the designation. The Town Council is the relevant body for preparing the Neighbourhood Development Plan.

Since that time, a steering group of volunteers, working on behalf of the Town Council has been developing a proposed Neighbourhood Plan for the parish, which has involved extensive research and consultation with the community and other stakeholder bodies.

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The proposed Hingham Neighbourhood Plan has undergone an independent examination by Mr Andrew Ashcroft (Andrew Ashcroft Planning Ltd). The examination concluded on 23 September 2024 and the report of findings has now been submitted to South Norfolk Council.

The examiner’s report concludes that, subject to making certain recommended modifications, the Neighbourhood Plan meets the basic conditions for neighbourhood planning and should proceed to a Neighbourhood Planning referendum within the adopted neighbourhood area.

Having considered each of the recommendations in the examiner’s report and the reasons for them, South Norfolk Council proposes to approve each of the modifications, apart from that relating to Policy HING9 – Allocation of land for community uses. This proposal also includes consequential alternate proposals for supporting text relating to policies HING9 and HING6.

The Council is proposing an alternative modification on the basis of new evidence having been presented following receipt of the examiner’s report. This evidence takes the form of a feasibility study and related assessments focusing on the proposed land for allocation within Policy HING9.

In accordance with paragraph 13(1) of Schedule 4B to the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, the Council is now consulting on its proposal in relation to HING9.

The proposal is set out in the ‘South Norfolk Council Proposed Decision Statement – Hingham Neighbourhood Plan’ which can be found within the Neighbourhood Plan documents section, below, alongside the feasibility study and supporting documents.

Anyone wishing to make comments on the proposal must do so in writing before 5pm on Monday 9 June 2025.

Please use the Consultation Response Form that is available to download within the documents section, below.

Planning Practice Guidance also provides advice on the weight to be attached to a post-examination plan.

View the Neighbourhood Plan documents.