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Old Hunstanton Neighbourhood Plan

Information regarding the Old Hunstanton Neighbourhood Plan 2021-2036

Latest News - Old Hunstanton Neighbourhood Plan passed the local referendum and is now adopted by Borough Council

Making” (adopting) Neighbourhood Plan for Old Hunstanton

The Old Hunstanton Neighbourhood Development Plan was passed the referendum on 8 February 2024. A total of 91.5% votes were received in favour of adoption of the Neighbourhood Plan, meaning that the Borough Council is required to “make” (adopt, or bring into legal force) the neighbourhood Plan for Old Hunstanton Parish. The adoption Statement is available to download below:

The adopted Old Hunstanton Neighbourhood plan 2021-2036 is available below:

Previous stages

Referendum

The Community referendum for the Parish of Old Hunstanton, to determine whether the Old Hunstanton Neighbourhood Plan 2021-2036 should be “made” (adopted) by the Borough Council of Kings Lynn and West Norfolk was held on 8 February 2024.

The results of the referendum revealed that 86 votes were received in favour for adoption of an Old Hunstanton Neighbourhood Plan.

The results of the referendum are available on our Old Hunstanton Neighbourhood Planning Referendum 2024 page.

The referendum information pack and supporting appendices are available to download below:

Further details about the Neighbourhood Plan referendum can be found on our Neighbourhood Planning referendums page.

Decision Stage

Old Hunstanton Parish Council and the Borough Council accepted many of the Examiner’s Recommended Modifications (ERMs) but agreed several deviations from the ERMs, where these would still meet the “basic conditions”. Most significantly, it is proposed to reinstate the second homes/ principal residences policy (submission Plan Policy 6 “New Housing as Permanent Dwellings”), against the Examiner’s recommendation for deletion.

The Decision Statement sets out:

  • Where deviations from ERMs are proposed, with a justification for each (Appendix 1)
  • All modifications to the submitted Neighbourhood Plan, both ERMs (agreed) and deviation from ERMs, alongside the Borough Council’s decision (supported by the Parish Council) in response to each recommendation and the reasons for them (Appendix 2)
  • Modifications to inset maps (Appendix 3)

The Decision Statement, issued on 20 November 2023, can be viewed below.

The Decision Statement, issued under Regulation 18A, allows the Neighbourhood Plan to proceed to referendum.

Consultation on Proposed Modifications of the Examiners Report (proposed deviation from Examiner’s Recommendations), September 2023

Following publication of the Neighbourhood Plan Examiner’s Report (3 July 2023), Old Hunstanton Parish Council (including representatives of the Neighbourhood Planning Group) and the Borough Council held meetings (July/ August 2023) to consider the Examiner’s Recommended Modifications (ERMs) to the Old Hunstanton Neighbourhood Plan 2021-2036 (submitted August 2022/ examined January – July 2023).

Certain ERMs were considered unacceptable to the Parish Council and/ or Borough Council. Agreement has been reached between the parties as to where there was scope to deviate from the ERMs, while ensuring that the Plan fulfils the basic conditions, being mindful of the Examiner’s findings.

A 6-weeks consultation was run from 6 September – 18 October 2023 inclusive, to publicise propose deviations from the ERMs and give potentially interested parties an opportunity to respond. The consultation document is available to view through this link:

Four responses were received, but none objected to any of the proposed deviations from the Examiner’s Report (ERMs).

Publication of Neighbourhood Plan Examiner’s Report

The Neighbourhood Plan Examiner’s Report was published on 3 July 2023. The Examiner concluded that, subject to a series of recommended modifications set out in his Report, the Old Hunstanton Neighbourhood Plan meets all the necessary legal requirements and should proceed to referendum. The Examiner’s report is available to view through the following link.

Neighbourhood Plan examination

In January 2023, the Borough Council, in agreement with Old Hunstanton Parish Council, appointed Nigel McGurk to examine the Old Hunstanton Neighbourhood Plan. The examination tested whether the Neighbourhood Plan fulfils the basic conditions, that the Plan:

  1. Has regard to national policies and advice contained in guidance issued by the Secretary of State;
  2. Contributes to the achievement of sustainable development;
  3. Is in general conformity with the strategic policies of the development plan in the area;
  4. Is compatible with European Union (EU) obligations and European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR); and
  5. Does not breach the requirements of Chapter 8 of Part 6 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017.

The Neighbourhood Plan examination finished on 3 July 2023, upon receipt of the Examiner’s Report. Other examination documents are available to view through the following links:

Submission of Plan Regulation 15/Regulation 16 consultation

Old Hunstanton Parish Council submitted their Neighbourhood Plan to the council in August 2022 in accordance with the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012, Regulation 15. On 5 September 2022 the Borough Council signed off the Regulation 15 legal check allowing the Plan to be consulted upon under Regulation 16.

The consultation ran for six weeks from Friday 30 September 2022 until 5pm Friday 11 November 2022. Representations in response to the Regulation 16 consultation may be viewed through our online portal.

The following responses were appended to those shown on the portal:

The Neighbourhood Plan and other documents submitted under Regulation 15 are available below:

Full details about the statutory consultation (including the basic conditions) are set out in the statutory Public Notice.

Regulation 14

The draft Old Hunstanton Neighbourhood Plan 2021-2036 was published by the Parish Council in March 2021 and consulted upon during March and April 2021, under the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012, Regulation 14.

Further information regarding the Neighbourhood Plan is also available through the Parish Council’s Neighbourhood Development Plan web page.

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