Notes from the meeting held on the 18th July 2026 are below:

Breckland Local Plan – Pre-submission (Regulation 19) Public Consultation & Gypsy and Traveller Call for Sites

We are writing to you because we hold your contact information, as you or your organisation have previously requested to be kept informed in relation to preparing the Breckland Local Plan, and voluntarily signed up to our Local Plan Mailing List to be kept informed, or have previously submitted representations to the Local Plan process.

New Local Plan for Breckland

Breckland residents now have another opportunity to have their say on plans for the district’s future, following the launch of a consultation on Friday 31st July. The consultation enables local people to review the latest version of Breckland’s Council’s Local Plan, which sets out how Breckland should grow over the Plan period to 2043.

The consultation is underway after the draft Local Plan was reviewed by the authority’s Cabinet at their recent meeting. It is a wide-reaching document which includes, primarily, sites for new homes and employment. It also covers issues such as water usage, agri-tech and how much affordable housing is required.

The document is mandated by Government and guides where development will take place and how the district’s housing target, which is set by Central Government, will be met. The new government housing target was increased by around 45% from the previous target, now requiring the building of 920 new houses in Breckland every year. As a result, Breckland Council is required to identify sufficient land to deliver at least 16,560 new homes over the life of the Local Plan.

Call for Sites for additional Gypsy and Traveller land

In addition to the formal consultation, Cabinet also noted that to meet the Government’s requirements to provide sufficient sites for gypsy and travellers to use, additional land should ideally be identified for this purpose. As a result, a separate ‘call for sites’ will also get underway, inviting local landowners to suggest suitable locations to help meet this need.

The consultation is set to run alongside the Regulation 19 Public Consultation from 31st July to 23:59 on 16th September 2026. As with the previous consultation, people will be able to submit their sites via the Council’s dedicated consultation platform GoVocal or by completing a comment form electronically, by post or at one of the upcoming drop-in events (details below).

Consultation period

The consultation opens Friday 31st July and closes at 23:59 on Wednesday 16^th September 2026.

Consultation matters

This final consultation stage is your chance to make representations on whether the document is legally compliant i.e. has been prepared in accordance with the relevant legislation and whether it is ‘sound’ i.e. positively prepared, justified, effective and consistent with national policy.

How to view the consultation materials

The proposed submission documents, and all supporting documents, will be available via Planning Policy – Breckland Council (www.breckland.gov.uk/planning-policy) from Friday 31st July 2026. Paper copies will be available to view over the consultation period at public libraries in the District, and during normal office opening hours at Breckland’s Main Offices at Elizabeth House, Walpole Loke, Dereham, NR19 1EE and at Thetford House, Nicholas Street, Thetford, IP24 1BT.

How to respond

You can make representations using our online consultation portal. This is the best way to comment as it ensures that your comments are summarised and recorded accurately and are processed quickly. The online system allows for attachments to be uploaded (e.g. for more detailed comments, or supplementary evidence). Officers will process representations submitted online, before processing email or postal correspondence. You can access the online consultation portal at the following link: https://breckland.govocal.com/en-GB/ or, attend a drop-in event below:

Local Plan Regulation 19 consultation drop-in events:

• 17 August (9.30am-1.30pm): Thetford Library
• 20 August (9.30am-1.30pm): Dereham Library
• 21 August (9.30am-1.30pm): Swaffham Community Centre
• 26 August (9.30am-1.30pm): Watton Library
• 28 August (9.30am-1.30pm): Attleborough Library
• 1 September (1pm-6.30pm): Bridgham and Roudham Village Hall (Chapel Lane Bridgham) – focussed on Roudham and Larling growth proposals
• 3 September (1pm-6.30pm): East Harling Old School Hall – focussed on Roudham and Larling growth proposals
• 8 September (1pm-6.30pm): Breckland Council office, Dereham – focussed on East Tuddenham growth proposals
• 9 September (4pm-7.30pm): Breckland Council office, Dereham

Other ways of responding

If you have any difficultly in making your representation by the above method, please contact us so that we can discuss how best to assist you in making a representation (e.g. ‘Paper’ or ‘Microsoft Word’ forms can be made available upon request). Paper or emailable comments should be sent on the relevant form to the address(es) below.

If you cannot reply to the consultation using the online consultation system, please complete an electronic Word version of the response form and email it to: localplan@breckland.gov.uk  

Filling in the form makes sure that we have all the correct information to register and process your views and to keep you informed of progress on the Breckland District Local Plan 2025- 2043. Alternatively, you can print out a copy of the form to complete with a pen (using black ink), and then send to:

Local Plan Regulation 19 Consultation

Planning Policy Team

Breckland Council

Elizabeth House

Walpole Loke

Dereham

Norfolk

NR19 1EE

If you have any queries regarding the Regulation 19 Consultation and Call for Sites, please contact the Planning Policy Team at planning.policyteam@breckland.gov.uk

The pipe has been repaired. water pressure will increase during the day.

There is currently a tanker on site helping to recharge the system.

7.34am

Interruption to Supply

Affected area:

Hilborough and surrounding areas

Start Date:

Estimated restoration:

29 July 2026, 12:00

Last updated:

29 July 2026 – 05:21

In Progress

Ref No. 68755172

Our estimated fix time is now 12:00 pm on 29 July 2026

We’re sorry if you’re still experiencing either very low water pressure or no water at all in Hilborough and surrounding areas.

This is being caused by a burst water main in your area. We’ve had to extend the time to get things back to normal because we need a special fitting to complete our work. It’s now on its way from one of our depots. Once it’s arrived, our team on the ground will work as fast as they can to get things sorted.

Until then we’ll be using water tankers to pump water directly into the pipes to help reduce the impact on your water supply while we’re working. This means any water coming from your taps might be at a lower pressure than you’re used to.

As it’s taking longer than expected, we’ll keep this page updated with the latest from site rather than sending further emails or text messages. Thanks for bearing with us while we fix this issue.

You can read more here about the things we’ll do – and when we’ll do them – when your water supply’s not quite right. This includes providing alternative water supplies, paying compensation and how we’ll keep you updated.

How to get in touch:

Facebook | X

Mon – Sat: 7.30am – 10pm

Sun: 8am – 8pm

You can also report issues with your service 24/7 here.

Need extra help?

If you need extra support, we’d encourage you to sign up for our Priority Services Register. We can help a really wide range of people, from those with sight, hearing, or mobility difficulties, to parents with babies under 12 months old. And we offer a wide range of support, from prioritising your needs if your water stops, reading your meter for you (if you find this difficult), or sending out bills in other formats. Call us on 03457 145 145.

Household Food Waste Collection Service

The Simpler Recycling Legislation was introduced to enable consistent and more streamlined collections from all households and businesses, making recycling easier, whether at home, work or school.

Local authorities are required by 31^st March 2026 to introduce a weekly food waste collection.

Due to supplier constraints, we have been unable to introduce a food waste collection by this date, but we have taken steps to introduce a food waste collection service as soon as possible and have advised Defra accordingly.

The Food Waste Service will go live in September 2026 and will be rolled out in two phases:

• Phase 1 – North of the district – w/c 7th September
• Phase 2 – South of the district – w/c 21^st September

Ahead of go live, we will deliver two containers to each property:

• 7 litre caddies for use in the property
• 23 litre bins for use outside the property and to be placed out for collection

A leaflet will be provided with the containers, providing residents with the information they need for the service, including when collections are due to start.

Containers will be delivered to residents between the 8^th of August and 11^th of September.

A bedding in period of up to12 weeks has been allowed, where additional resource will be available to support both residents and Serco whilst they familiarise themselves with the new service.  During this period Serco will return for any missed collections, whether the fault of the resident or Serco.

We will be running a drop in session on 18^th June, 2:00 to 3:00pm, in the Anglia room at Elizabeth House, to answer any questions, or for more information about your area.

For further information please visit Household Food Waste Collection Service coming soon – Breckland Council or contact environmental.services@breckland.gov.uk.

The following was received from Breckland District Council:

At a special Cabinet meeting on the 13^th July, Cabinet approved the Local Plan Regulation 19 Consultation which is scheduled to run from 31st July to 16th September 2026. As with the previous consultation, people will be able to submit their comments via a dedicated website or by completing a comment form electronically, by post or at one of the upcoming drop-in events (details below).

Ahead of the launch of the consultation, residents are also invited to attend a virtual ‘Town Hall’ event next week, where they will be able to find out more about the latest version of the Local Plan, the upcoming consultation, and to ask questions of the Council’s Leader and senior planners.

The event is scheduled to take place 6-7pm on 20th July 2026. The event is open to anyone who wishes to attend, you can book your place at the event via the following link: www.breckland.gov.uk/Local-Plan-Town-Hall

To review the latest draft Local Plan documents and take part in the consultation after it launches on 31 July, visit breckland.govocal.com or attend a drop-in session below.