Objective 2: Delivering a sustainable Norfolk

Summary of Objective

Growth and a thriving economy can be achieved through good links to services, jobs, education and skills. We look to meet the demands of future generations by working closely with district councils and the Major and Estate Development Team at NCC, among others, to monitor and implement the actions set out in the LTP. 

Policies

• Policy 5: We will work with partners to inform decisions about new development ensuring they are well connected to maximise use of sustainable and active transport options. This will make new developments more attractive places to live, thus supporting a strong sense of the public realm 
• Policy 6: We will work with the development community and local stakeholders to ensure greener transport solutions are embedded in land-use planning to significantly reduce traffic generation by private car. We will also work to ensure that the necessary infrastructure to support the transition to a clean transport network is in place. We will seek that any carbon impacts are monitored and offset by locally applicable measures. As part of our ongoing work on developing guidance for how we deal with new development we will, amongst other things, consider how to establish carbon plans and budgets and devise methodologies to achieve carbon neutrality 
• Policy 7: In Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs), development will need to demonstrate its positive contribution to tackling the air quality problem 

Objective 2: Delivery highlights

• In 2024 the Norfolk Strategic Infrastructure Delivery Plan (NSIDP) was reviewed and updated and several new projects were submitted and appraised for inclusion into the plan. View the 2023-24 NSIDP. 
• Following endorsement of the Health Protocol by the Norfolk Strategic Planning Member Forum on 24 October 2024, the Protocol has been individually endorsed by all of Norfolk's planning authorities. 
• A Network Improvement Strategy for Watton is in development. This will add to a number of other network improvement strategies in other locations as part of a programme of studies looking at the transport impacts of growth in market towns. 
• National Highways has indicated that they have secured funding for further assessment of the A11 for Thetford A11 junctions and successor to link road work. 
• Work with districts on Local Plans - The Great Yarmouth Local Plan was submitted to the Secretary of State for examination on 24 February 2025, and further partnership working will be undertaken ahead of the Plan being adopted in early 2026. 
• Partnership working in the planning process - Ongoing discussions with County Council service providers, and in particular Children's Services in respect of the planning for school provision. This includes consideration of how children will travel to school and impacts on the wider transport network as part of pre-application enquiries and submitted planning applications. 
• We continue to engage on rail, including with train operators, Network Rail, Transport East and East West Rail Main Line Partnership. NCC submitted a response to the East West Rail consultation and consultation on the new Rail Bill. NCC also fed into Transport East Rail Advocacy Statement and Corporate Social Responsibility ask. 
• The AtoBetter Programme continues to work with schools adjacent to developments under their responsibility - in conjunction with Modeshift, primarily with the Active Travel Ambassadors Scheme (aimed at High Schools). In addition, it supports schools through the Modeshift STARS schools travel plan accreditation scheme. 
• The Countywide Air Quality Group, which has representatives from each district and other partners, continues to meet regularly, with the aim of collaboration and sharing knowledge and best practice. A framework for air quality is to be produced. 
• A review of the highway network hierarchy has been completed in Norwich, and work is underway to identify areas where the hierarchy can be changed to support growth in walking, wheeling and cycling. 
• An updated Norfolk Strategic Planning Framework (NSPF) was endorsed by Norfolk Strategic Planning Member Forum in May 2025, and subsequently referred to all signatories for individual endorsement thereafter. It has already received Norfolk County Council Cabinet endorsement.  

Work for next period

NCC are currently working on the 24/25 iteration of the Norfolk Strategic Infrastructure Delivery Plan (NSIDP) and will be planned to be endorsed by Cabinet at the end of the year.  

2025-26 will also see a review of Safe Sustainable Development (guidance document for new developments). This is being undertaken during 2025 as other changes to policy need to be reflected such as National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and commuted sums, which are financial contributions made by developers for the future maintenance of assets, typically highways or infrastructure.