Greater Norwich NSSA -New Settlement Master Planning - Town Planning and Landscape

Greater Norwich, comprising the local authorities of South Norfolk Council (SNC), Broadland District Council (BDC) and Norwich City Council (NCC), also working with Norfolk County Council (Norfolk CC), has an established track record of partnership working in the context of plan-making, strategic infrastructure planning and investment.

The potential for delivery of a new settlement, or settlements, in the Greater Norwich area was considered during the preparation of the, now adopted, Greater Norwich Local Plan (GNLP). Whilst none of the potential new settlement sites considered were allocated, the adopted GNLP identified that any review of the local plan in the future would assess the potential for a new settlement or settlements.

In the context of a proposed GNLP Review, the Greater Norwich Development Partnership (GNDP) has recently committed to developing an evidence base and exploring the potential allocation of land for a new settlement or settlements. It is also likely, ahead of a likely devolution process, that Norfolk and Suffolk will be embarking on the creation of a strategic Spatial Development Strategy (SDS) so there is a further imperative to consider strategic growth opportunities for Greater Norwich, positioned within a wider context.

This consultancy appointment is being jointly commissioned by SNC and BDC, on behalf of the GNDP.

A Call for Sites has been undertaken (Spring '26) in preparation for the GNLP Review - with the new plan being prepared in accordance with the new plan-making system - and three potential new settlement sites have been promoted. These are the same sites promoted through the last plan-making process.

The purpose of this commission is to procure a consultant to provide strategic Master planning and Landscape advice to support in 'triaging' three potential new settlement sites to inform the Site Assessment process and the identification of preferred new settlement site(s) prior to the proposed Regulation 23 Consultation.