Supplementary Planning Documents for South Norfolk Council

Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) help explain how certain policies in the Local Plan should be used when making planning decisions. They don’t create new policies, but they do give extra detail and guidance to make the planning process clearer for everyone.

SPDs must follow the rules set out in the Local Plan and stay consistent with its policies. Before any SPD is officially adopted, it goes through a public consultation, so local people and organisations can have their say. This is part of our commitment to community involvement.

We’ve already adopted several SPDs to support planning in South Norfolk, which you can see below.

Planning for a greener future in South Norfolk, balancing progress with protection: South Norfolk Landscape Susceptibility in relation to Energy Generation, Storage and Transmission Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) Draft

South Norfolk is quickly becoming a focus for new energy infrastructure projects. As proposals for solar farms, battery storage, substations, and powerlines increase, it’s vital to understand how these developments could impact our diverse landscapes, from peaceful river valleys and open farmland to the edges of our towns.

To help guide smart and sustainable planning, South Norfolk Council has asked The Landscape Partnership to carry out a Landscape Susceptibility Study. This study explores how different types of energy projects can be thoughtfully integrated into the local environment, while preserving the area's unique character.

This document is intended to ensure future developments are well-suited to their surroundings and align with both national and local planning policies. This study will support the Council in making informed decisions that balance progress with protection, ensuring South Norfolk remains a beautiful place to live, work, and visit.

Where an area has been identified as highly susceptible, we would not be in favour of development.

Public consultation on the draft Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) commenced on 9 July 2025 and was originally due to close at 5.00pm on Monday 18th August 2025. To allow additional time for residents and stakeholders to share their views, the consultation period has been extended by a further two weeks.

The new deadline for responses is 5pm on Monday 1 September 2025.

In accordance with the relevant regulations the Council have produced a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Habitats Regulations assessment (HRA) Screening Report to accompany the draft SPD.

An Equalities and Communities Impact Assessment can be found here for this draft SPD.

Food Hub SPD

Alongside Broadland District Council, we have prepared a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) which sets out the main considerations that will apply to any proposal for a food and agricultural sector hub in the Broadland District Council and South Norfolk Council local planning authority areas. The Food Hub SPD was adopted in July 2014.

A new Greater Norwich Food Cluster was announced in March 2015. This is one of three new Food Enterprise Zones in Norfolk and Suffolk which will be vital economic hubs, boosting collaboration, bringing better connectivity to the supply chain and encouraging links with skills and agri-tech research.

Download the Food SPD

Open Space SPD

We have prepared the Open Space SPD to provide guidance for the provision, adoption and future maintenance of outdoor recreational facilities directly needed as a result of new development within the district. It makes clear what we expect when deciding planning applications and provides guidance for town and parish councils and other similar organisations considering taking on the long-term responsibility for open space and recreational facilities.

The guide is applicable to all new residential development proposing 15 units or more. It sets out both the quantitative and qualitative amounts of recreational open space generated by new proposals using an occupancy multiplier, as well as the Council’s preferred approach for the adoption and maintenance of these areas.

The SPD expands on both national and local planning policy, in particular Development Management policy DM3.15 ‘Outdoor play facilities and recreational space’, and will be used as a consideration in the determination of planning applications.

Download the Open Space SPD

Norwich Research Park Development Framework SPD

In March 2009 we adopted a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) to guide and coordinate development on land allocated in the 2003 South Norfolk Local Plan at the Norwich Research Park (NRP).

On 26 October 2015 we adopted a Site Specific Allocations and Policies Document, which supersedes the NRP allocation in the 2003 Local Plan and consequently the SPD. However you can still view the Development Framework SPD, along with the supporting Appendices in the downloads below, as these provide useful context to issues surrounding future development of the NRP.

A Norwich Research Park Enterprise Zone was launched in April 2016 which will benefit from business rate discounts, simplified planning and access to superfast broadband.

Download Norwich Research Park Development Framework SPD

South Norfolk Place-Making Guide SPD

The purpose of the South Norfolk Place-Making Guide Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) is to promote and secure high quality design in new development within South Norfolk. It also makes clear what we expect when deciding planning applications.

The guide is applicable to all new development with the exception of alterations and extensions to existing properties, and design in the historic environment (listed buildings and conservation areas). It sets out a number of design principles based on recognised best practice and explains the key requirements that we will take into consideration when assessing proposals for new development.

Download South Norfolk Place-Making Guide SPD

Landscape Character Assessments

We also have detailed Landscape Character Assessments and advice on wind turbines in South Norfolk. Landscape Character Assessments are comprehensive, detailed studies of the landscape and environment. In 2001 Land Use Consultants undertook a Landscape Character Assessment of the South Norfolk district.

This work was updated and reviewed by Chris Blandford Associates in 2012 to provide evidence to support the emerging new Local Plan. The Chris Blandford Associates ‘South Norfolk Local Landscape Designations Review’ work should be read in conjunction with the 2001 Landscape Character Assessment.

Download the Landscape Character Assessments and advice on wind turbines

Norfolk County Council Parking Standard SPD

The parking standards have been prepared by Norfolk County Council. The purpose of this document is to provide a consistent set of parking guidelines for application within new developments throughout Norfolk. Download the Norfolk County Council Parking Standard SPD.

Advice notes and reference documents

An advice note has been produced to assist those wishing to build their own home to prepare planning applications for custom and self-build housing. The advice note pulls together a range of information from different sources and has been agreed by the council's Cabinet. The advice note has not been prepared as a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) and does not carry the weight of an SPD in the decision making process. Nonetheless, the guidance contained in the advice note will be a material consideration that will be referred to in determination of relevant planning applications. Read the advice note on proposals for Custom and Self Build Housing (PDF 176KB)

An advice note has been produced by South Norfolk and Broadland Councils to help guide developers on the requirements that allow the Council to provide refuse collection and street care services. The advice note has not been prepared as a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) and does not carry the weight of an SPD in the decision making process. Nonetheless, the guidance contained in the advice note will be a material consideration that will be referred to in determination of relevant planning applications. Read the advice note on planning for waste and recycling collections and street care in new developments (PDF 621KB).

Advice notes have also been produced for Working from Home (Download the South Norfolk Council Working from Home Advice Note) and for Agricultural Occupancy Restrictions (Download the South Norfolk Council Agricultural Occupancy Restrictions and the Removal of Occupancy Conditions Advice Note).