Published: Tuesday, 1st April 2025
Neighbourhood plans for Marshland St James, Syderstone, Walpole Cross Keys (Review of 2017 plan) and The Walpoles have been published for public consultation, ahead of an independent examination.
The four plans have reached this important milestone, having concluded their parish consultation and been submitted to the Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk for examination. Neighbourhood plans are developed by the local community to help guide development in their local area and are subject to a multi-stage approval process.
This current stage is a procedural consultation to confirm that each plan meets the basic conditions as set out in planning legislatio. Representations are being sought as to whether each of these plans:
- Has regard to national policies and advice contained in guidance issued by the Secretary of State;
- Contributes to the achievement of sustainable development;
- Is in general conformity with the strategic policies of the development plan in the area;
- Is compatible with European Union (EU) obligations and European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR); and
- Does not breach the requirements of Chapter 8 of Part 6 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (7).
The ‘basic conditions’ representations received under Regulation 16 regarding each Neighbourhood Plan will be forwarded to an appointed examiner who will assess the plans and supporting documents and decide whether they can go forward to a referendum.
The documents can be viewed:
- on our Neighbourhood Planning web page
- at local libraries (details and opening times available from Norfolk and Cambridgeshire County Councils)
- at the borough council’s offices:
Kings Court
Chapel Street
King’s Lynn
Norfolk
PE30 1EX
The consultations close at 11:59pm on Monday, 12 May 2025. Any comments made after the consultation period may be discarded. These consultations are not about likes or dislikes in each plan, they are focused on whether the plans meet the five basic conditions.
You may submit comments:
- via the consultation questionnaires (Neighbourhood Plans being prepared web page);
- by email: planning.policy@west-norfolk.gov.uk; or
- by post to:
Planning Policy Team
Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk
Kings Court
Chapel Street
King’s Lynn
Norfolk
PE30 1EX
If these plans pass the independent examination this spring/ summer, referendums will take place in late-2025. The referendum results will determine whether or not they become part of the planning process for those parish areas.