The Greater Norwich authorities, Broadland District Council, Norwich City Council and South Norfolk Council, working with Norfolk County Council, are preparing to review the Greater Norwich Local Plan (GNLP) which was adopted in March 2024.
This upcoming review is prompted by national planning reform and the government’s new method for calculating housing need, resulting in higher housing targets. In addition, the government has introduced a new plan-making system, which changes the way local plans are prepared.
Starting the review now will help the councils to retain control over where growth happens in the longer term, ensuring new developments are accompanied by the necessary infrastructure, environmental protections, and community benefits.
The review will also focus on the delivery of new strategic settlements. The early identification of possible, sustainable sites for new settlements could reduce the pressure for additional housing allocations in villages and towns.
As part of the early preparation stage, before the review of the GNLP begins, the Greater Norwich authorities have opened a ‘Call for Sites’ running from 9 February 2026 until 23 March 2026. As this is evidence gathering rather than a consultation, there is the possibility that the call for sites may reopen later in the year.
Landowners, developers, and other interested parties are invited to submit sites that may be suitable for housing, employment or other uses. The Greater Norwich authorities will then assess submissions to identify which sites may be suitable to be included in the reviewed local plan. This will form the basis of a future public consultation. For the current GNLP, many more sites than were submitted for consideration than were allocated.
Chair of the GNDP and Leader of South Norfolk Council, Daniel Elmer said: “Maintaining our reputation for successful joint planning is vital. An up-to-date plan doesn’t just meet government mandates; it places the tools for growth directly in the hands of our local communities, ensuring we build homes where they make sense, supported by the roads, employment areas, and green spaces people need.”
Greater Norwich has a long-standing history of leveraging its unique joint planning status to secure major investment for essential infrastructure, such as the funding for the Long Stratton bypass.
The refreshed GNLP will place a heavy emphasis on climate resilience. The review ensures that all future growth aligns with the latest environmental evidence, protecting the region’s natural assets while promoting sustainable, low-carbon infrastructure.
By starting the review before the June 2026 deadline, the Councils are eligible for specific Government funding to offset the costs of plan-making. This includes already secured support for the digitalisation of the planning process, ensuring a more transparent and accessible system for residents.
The Greater Norwich authorities are taking a digital-first approach for all stages of the review of the GNLP, including for site submissions made during the ‘Call for Sites’. The aim of this approach is to speed up the plan-making process, in line with government requirements, and to allow the Greater Norwich authorities to assess submissions more effectively.
