Information on the emerging and previous masterplan that will guide regeneration in Hunstanton
Hunstanton Masterplan Public Consultation
The Hunstanton community can now have their say on the final draft of a regeneration vision for the seaside town, supporting regeneration, investment and opportunity in the area over the next 20 years. The final Public Consultation on the emerging masterplan is now running from Monday 29 June 2026 to Monday 27 July 2026. Please take your time to read through the information on these pages to take part.
Why are we doing a new Masterplan?
In 2008, BDP (Building Design Partnership) were commissioned to produce a masterplan for Hunstanton. This work set out a vision for the town and identified key sites of opportunity for future development. This work was supplemented by further studies through to the Hunstanton Prospectus in 2017.
Since then a number of sites identified in the masterplan and the Prospectus have been developed, or are currently subject to planning applications for development. The Borough Council now wishes to update the masterplanning work to bring it up to date with current standards and to refresh the vision to make it relevant to 2026 and into the future. As part of this process, sites which have not yet been developed have been considered, and new objectives relevant to today have been identified.
The purpose of this masterplan will be to combine and update the existing masterplans for Hunstanton into one overarching masterplan which can inform future planning policy, and identify inward investment and future funding opportunities. The Masterplan seeks to enhance Hunstanton as a beautiful and high-quality place to live, visit and do business, to boost the resort as a year-round visitor destination beyond the main holiday season, celebrating its most unique assets while improving the town centre and connections with the seafront. Specific projects will continue to emerge and evolve in partnership with the community, business and partner organisations over the lifetime of the plan.
What is being consulted on?
The purpose of this masterplan update is to show you where we are after a long period of workshops and consultations, and how the masterplan has developed in response to the feedback we have received from everyone.
Key objectives for the 2026 Hunstanton Masterplan are;
- Increase visitor numbers and economic activity during the off-peak winter months;
- Improve integration and connections between the town centre and the seafront;
- Improve key public realm spaces to create well designed flexible places for people to enjoy;
- Identify key anchor sites on the promenade for new leisure and events facilities, including the opportunity for new and enhanced leisure at the wider Oasis site area;
- Improve the town centre environment
- improve the promenade and develop a design strategy for ensuring that flood defence works create high quality placemaking;
- Integrate with existing walking and cycling strategies, and improve connections with public transport;
- Ensure new proposals enhance and improve the existing heritage assets of the town;
- Inform the Hunstanton Car Parking Strategy;
- Supporting existing and new businesses to thrive in Hunstanton; and
- Supporting and improving training and employment opportunities in Hunstanton
We are consulting on the Masterplan Vision, Strategies and types of development proposed for specific areas of the town as well as seeking the public's views on the priority of developments to help finalise the masterplan document.
How can I have my say?
The public consultation is being held from Monday 29 June 2026 to Monday 27 July 2026. The online consultation along with the exhibition boards, previous consultation responses and draft masterplan are available below.
Take part in the consultation survey
- Previous consultation responses
- Draft masterplan
Drop-in events providing an opportunity to speak to the team developing the Masterplan are taking place:
- 10am to 7pm on Monday 13 July at Hunstanton Town Hall
- 12pm to 6pm on Tuesday 21 July at Oasis Leisure Centre
What’s next?
Once this public consultation has closed, the feedback received will be used to further refine the Masterplan, to ensure it reflects comments made by people living and working in Hunstanton. The updated and finalised Masterplan will be adopted by us later in 2026. Once agreed, the Masterplan will put Hunstanton in a stronger position to secure investment opportunities from the public and private sectors, as well as inform shorter-term improvements and longer-term regeneration ambitions, including specific projects such as renewal of the sea defences and promenade.
About the Emerging Hunstanton Masterplan
Project Scope
- To combine and update existing masterplans for Hunstanton into one overarching masterplan.
- Align masterplan with emerging carparking strategy , flood defences and leisure centre review.
- Recognise the aspiration to create a multi season draw to the town, not just summer, utilising existing and underutilised property assets.
- Deliver a masterplan that can inform future planning policy, market engagement and inward investment opportunities with private sector and future funding opportunities created by Devolution.
The masterplan will set out the vision and ambitions for the physical regeneration opportunities and ambitions of Hunstanton and consider the appropriate future land use for sites in the town, active travel, public realm, highways, town centre access and connectivity needs over the next 20 years. Focusing on the town centre and sea frontage, but considering the wider urban area of the town, the masterplan will ensure that Hunstanton is a beautiful and high quality place to live – as well as to visit. The project will bring together and update opportunities identified from previous plans, strategies and stakeholder engagement, becoming the blueprint for Hunstanton, ready to respond to investment opportunities that may arise from proposals for devolution in Norfolk & Suffolk as well as leveraging private investment.
To shape the draft masterplan, consultation took place during November with a wide range of local and statutory stakeholders, including parish and town councils, Hunstanton businesses, groups and local stakeholders in December and the wider public in 2026.
Milestones and Engagement
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| October to November 2025 | Masterplan development and workshops |
| November 2025 | Refine masterplan |
| November to December 2025 | Engagement with stakeholders and statutory bodies (EA, BCKLWN planning, Historic England etc) |
| December 2025 | Refine masterplan |
| January to February 2026 | Public consultation |
| February 2026 | Draft final masterplan document produced and circulated for final consultation and comment |
| Summer 2026 | Public consultation on Draft Final Masterplan |
| Autumn 2026 | Presentation to Council |
For further information please email: economic.development@West-Norfolk.gov.uk.
About the previous Regeneration Masterplan
A masterplan to guide regeneration for Hunstanton's Southern Seafront and Town Centre was launched in 2008. Additionally, the southern seafront area was identified as a priority in the Hunstanton Prosperity Coastal Community Team Prospectus, which was endorsed by Cabinet in April 2017.
The Masterplan exercise was to assess the feasibility (development potential and viability) for mixed use redevelopment, options for public realm, vacant sites and underutilised sites within the study area. The masterplan was launched with a presentation to stakeholders in Hunstanton Town Hall in September 2008. It was formally adopted in November 2008. All four parts of the presentation, and it's appendices, can be downloaded from the link below:
View the Regeneration Masterplan presentation documents
The vision
The masterplan set out a vision of Hunstanton as:
- an active town
- a town that meets the needs of its residents and acts as a good local service centre
- a more attractive seaside destination, where visitors return, stay longer and spend more
- a town that respects its heritage, whilst looking to the future
- a town that makes the most of its setting and natural assets, linking town and seafront and emphasising the views
What the plan reviews
The masterplan reviewed key aspects of the functioning of Hunstanton as a seaside resort and local service centre, including:
- identifying potential development sites
- improving vehicle and pedestrian movement, public transport, access and parking for residents and visitors
- providing design guidance
- identifying areas for visual improvement and environmental enhancement, particularly in the public realm
2008 Regeneration Masterplan
You can view the 2008 Regeneration Masterplan below.