1 Introduction

Site Specific Proposals Draft Plan

1.1 The Site Specific Proposals Draft Plan (incorporating Proposals Map Amendments) was published for public consultation from 15 June to 31 July 2009. During this period copies of the documents were made available for inspection at North Norfolk District Council offices, all local libraries and were also published on the Council’s website. In addition, advertisements outlining the consultation were published in local newspapers and many organisations and individuals were either sent copies of the document or notified of the consultation period and how to view the documents and make representations. Site notices were also placed at proposed allocation sites and posters advertising the consultation widely distributed. In total, 915 organisations and individuals made 1,379 representations on the Site Specific Proposals Draft Plan within the specified six week period. All representations can be viewed online via the Council's on-line consultation system ⁽¹⁾

Suggesting Changes

1.2 Government advice on the preparation of new planning documents ⁽²⁾ states that councils can address issues raised during consultation if they feel this is necessary by proposing changes to the Plan. The guidance sets out different possible types of changes, including those which are limited to factual corrections or updates (Minor Modifications) and those which go beyond this and alter a limited part of the Plan (Focused or Key Changes). Whilst the Council considers the Draft Plan to be sound it recognises that some changes could be made to address issues raised during consultation. Most of the requested changes are limited to factual corrections or additional clarifications which do not dramatically alter the Plan, and these will be contained in a Schedule of Minor Modifications that will be published alongside the Site Specific Proposals document at the time of submission. There are, however, a limited number of changes, covering specific parts of the Plan, which the Council feels are more significant and would benefit from consultation prior to examination. These 'Key Changes' are set out in this document and are being published to enable representations as to their soundness to be made.

1.3 The Council defines a Key Change as an alteration where:

• the Council will request that an additional site be considered.
• the Council will request that an alternative site should be considered.
• the Council is suggesting that a site should be reduced or increased in size and consequently would accommodate a different number of dwellings to that originally consulted upon; or
• changes to the policy requirements may result in a different form of development not previously envisaged (eg different access proposals).

1.4 The schedules of Minor Modifications and Key Changes, the original Draft Plan, and all comments received during the Draft Plan and this latest consultation will be submitted to Government in 2010 for consideration by an appointed Inspector who will independently examine the Plan.

How to use this document

1.5 This document contains details of a limited number of proposed Key Changes to the Draft Plan that the Council will ask the Inspector to consider through the examination process. Section 2 is a schedule of these changes and describes each change, how it relates to the Draft Plan, and why the Council considers that the changes are desirable. Section 3 provides further detail, where this is required, to fully explain the nature of the changes that will be requested. The appendices to this document provide additional supporting information such as details of the Sustainability Appraisal and Appropriate Assessment process. Whilst this document accurately describes the proposed changes in some instances it may also be helpful to refer to the Draft Plan document for full details of the original proposals.

How to respond to this document

1.6 Representations can only be made on the proposed key changes contained in this document. This consultation is not an opportunity to add further representations in relation to the Draft Plan and there is no need to repeat representations which were made at the Draft Plan consultation stage. All representations received on the Draft Plan during the previous consultation in June/July 2009 will be forwarded to the Inspector for consideration during the examination. Representations received at this stage which do not relate to one of the Key Changes will not be accepted.

1.7 All representations should be received during the six week period running from Tuesday 5 January to Tuesday 16 February 2010. Representations should be based on the 'soundness' of the proposals and submitted via the online consultation portal at http://consult.north-norfolk.gov.uk/portal, or on the Comments Form. Further details on the consultation process is contained in Appendix 3.

1.8 Each of the Key Changes have been given a unique reference number which should be quoted at all times.

What happens next?

1.9 All comments received during this six week period will be sent to the Inspector alongside the original Draft Plan and this Schedule of Key Changes. This schedule is a request from the Council to the Inspector appointed to examine the Draft Plan and it is a matter for the Inspector to determine if any proposed changes will be incorporated within the Plan. The Site Specific Proposals and supporting documents are intended to be submitted to Government in March 2010 with the examination expected in the summer.

1.10 Following the examination public hearing sessions, the Inspector will produce a binding report on the Site Specific Proposals document. The Council is required to make the changes specified in the report before adopting the document (expected end 2010).