Horsford Neighbourhood Plan

Welcome to the Horsford Neighbourhood Plan website.

Horsford is a rural village situated 6 miles Northwest of Norwich surrounded by Horsford Forest on the northern perimeter. In recent years the village has seen considerable population growth and a thriving business sector.

In 2015 the village decided to pursue the first Neighbourhood Plan to provide positivity for changes and development to enhance economic, social and environmental well-being for the residents and businesses in the village. Accordingly, under the direction of the Neighbourhood Plan Working Party, appointed by the Parish Council, the first Plan passed referendum in 2018.

Since then, a revised National Planning Policy Framework has been published setting out new policies, including an increased use of Design Codes giving the opportunity for an update to the existing Neighbourhood Plan and specify details of changes to be made; from off street parking to how new housing is designed, and the need to include more sustainability measures. Horsford Parish Council wanted to ensure the Plan remained current and effective so was pleased to give the go ahead for this to happen.

The initial aim of the 2018 Plan was to give a voice to residents to shape development. The new Plan took the ambitious step of considering land allocation against a set of specific criteria relating to location of new housing that would provide community benefits including a sports hub, measures to reduce traffic speed on the Holt Road, community facilities, improved and connected walking and cycling routes around the village. This type of benefit had not been offered to the village by past developers.

There have been four consultations with the residents and businesses of Horsford to enable them to have their say, view draft proposals and ask questions. Landowners in the village were given the opportunity to put land forward in a Call for Sites and at the October 2023 consultation, their land agents presented the proposals for new house building that would bring with it the community benefits set out earlier. Inviting the Land Agents to the consultation was an unusual step but the Horsford Neighbourhood Plan Refresh Team (HNPR Team) felt it was the right approach to take, helping to identify an area of the village where residents felt new homes could be built and setting out how they would be delivered.

This method was highly successful and with the collaborative effort between the Horsford Neighbourhood Plan Refresh Team (HNPR Team), the residents and local businesses during these consultations, a sustainable site was chosen. 

The policies and aspirations contained in the refreshed Plan have been accomplished through research, debate, consultation and feedback to ensure the widest possible engagement with the community. A top priority has been the desire to create a stronger community that is a better place to live. Where future development adds village character without detracting from the environment, provides recreation facilities, allows people to work locally and where traffic concerns are better managed.

The HNPR Team would like to thank all residents who have given their time and contribution to come to the various consultations regarding the HNPR. This is your Neighbourhood Plan, and it could not have been done without you.

Dedication:

This Horsford Neighbourhood Plan is dedicated to the memory of Andrew McClure who was an enthusiastic member of the HNPR Team.  Sadly, Andrew passed away on 16 September 2024. Andrew was a key presence on the HNPR Team, and we miss his thoughts, his policy views and his amazing ability to sort out the feedback we received at our consultations and put them into a meaningful format! We also miss his sense of humour which brought light to some of our difficult moments.

Thank you:

Horsford Parish Council wishes to thank the following for their support in creating this Neighbourhood Plan:

ONH: Planning for Good

Michael Thorpe, Colourprint

All photos reproduced with kind permission by: Emily Burton and Claire Thrower.