Information about the initial Scoping Consultation for the next Local Plan 2026-2044
The Local Plan scoping consultation is the initial/preliminary stage of plan-making. It represents the launch/ start in preparing the next Local Plan for the Borough. The scoping consultation notice is available for viewing.
About the Scoping Consultation
On 23 July 2026, Cabinet approved the scoping consultation for the next Local Plan. This has allowed us to run the Scoping Consultation for 4 weeks, from 1 to 29 September (inclusive).
The scoping consultation is underpinned by a series of public engagement events, with a mix of these in-person and online, as follows:
- Tuesday, 8 September (3pm-5pm) – online/ virtual consultation session 1, for the wider public
- Monday, 14 September (11am-3pm) – In person “drop-in” event, at The Place, New Conduit Street, King’s Lynn, PE30 1DE
- Thursday, 17 September (2pm-7pm) – In person “drop-in” event, at Hunstanton Town Hall, The Green, Hunstanton, PE36 6BQ
- Tuesday, 22 September (11am-3pm) – In person “drop-in” event, at The Place, New Conduit Street, King’s Lynn, PE30 1DE
- Wednesday, 23 September (2pm-7pm) – In person “drop-in” event, at Downham Market Town Hall, Bridge Street, Downham Market, PE38 9DW
- Thursday, 24 September (3pm-5pm) – online/ virtual consultation session 2, for the wider public
At the consultation events, we will be seeking to speak directly to any interested parties; e.g. local businesses, members of the public, landowners, with a view to establishing the most effective ways of consultation and engagement going forward. This includes for traditionally “hard to reach groups”; e.g. young people, ethnic minorities etc.
The events will also be a two-way process, also allowing us to explain what the Local Plan is about, why it is important and how it will affect everybody’s lives, once the plan is in place (anticipated by summer 2029).
If you wish to participate in one of the online sessions on 8 or 24 September, please sign up to the Eventbrite event below to book your place. The "in-person" events are all open to everyone, with no need to book (please just turn up).
Online Local Plan Consultation session
Responding to the consultation
The consultation runs for 4 weeks, finishing at 11:59pm on Tuesday, 29 September 2026. It consists of a series of questions regarding the following:
- Possible scope of the Local Plan; e.g. what you like/ do not like about where you live; where new homes, green spaces etc could be situated in the Borough etc (7 questions)
- Engagement – how we should consult with the public and interested parties, going forward (3 questions)
- Demographics – age group, incomes etc, but strictly no personal data (5 questions, to help us understand the profile of respondents)
- Call for Sites survey (forms available here, providing an opportunity to –
- comment on over 770 sites already put forward by landowners, developers etc during the recent Call for Sites (January – May 2026)
- put forward broad locations for growth, to inform the direction and pattern for new development/ growth
- put forward any further sites for possible inclusion in the Local Plan if you missed the previous Call for Sites
In responding to the scoping consultation, we request you use the online form below, which will enable us to quickly and efficiently analyse your feedback.
Respond to Local Plan Scoping Consultation
However, you can still send in/ submit written responses by email/ paper, if you prefer. Please return any responses, clearly identifying to which scoping consultation question (listed in the Local Plan Scoping Consultation survey form, above) these relate, to:
- local.plan@west-norfolk.gov.uk; or
- Next Local Plan 2026-2044
Planning Policy Team
Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk
Chapel Street
King’s Lynn
PE30 1EX
What happens after the scoping consultation?
Following the end of the scoping consultation on 29 September 2026, we will collate all feedback received through the online/ submitted forms and any questionnaires and feedback provided during the engagement events.
The feedback will be systematically assessed and summarised into a summary consultation report (also known as the Regulation 22 report), which will inform the next stages of plan-making. That is, preparation of the initial draft Local Plan 2026-2044 and supporting evidence base. The consultation report will be made available soon after the formal start of drafting the next Local Plan, known as “Gateway 1”.
Gateway 1, which we will need to pass/ complete by 30 October, represents the formal start of the legal 30-months Local Plan Timetable for preparing the plan. The consultation/Regulation 22 report will be published shortly after then (November 2026).
It is emphasized that all written feedback received during the scoping consultation will inform the Local Plan as it progresses.
Other information about the consultation
Preparation of the Local Plan is directed by The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026.
The new plan-making system came into force in March 2026. The scoping consultation is a new preliminary stage of this process. Unlike most consultations it does not propose a draft policy, view, or position for people/consultation bodies to consider and provide feedback on. Instead, it seeks views on the scope (what the plan could cover) and how they would like to be engaged in the local plan-making process going forward.
However, it should be noted that a significant degree of this is set by Government through legislation and policy. For example, the content cannot replicate or tweak any policy which is set nationally (i.e. through the NPPF).
The consultation is also underpinned by the Strategic Environmental Assessment Scoping Report (July 2026), which provides background information regarding the current situation for the Local Plan area (whole Borough of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk). It contains a range of environmental, economic and social data/ information, to inform the plan-making process. As the responsible body, we have determined that the Local Plan will require Strategic Environmental Assessment. The SEA determination notice is available for viewing.
For further information, please contact us at local.plan@west-norfolk.gov.uk.