NDP - Reviewing 2025 and planning for the 2026 ‘Community Conversation
GREAT MASSINGHAM NEIGHBOURHOOD DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Reviewing 2025 and planning for the 2026 ‘Community Conversation’
Over the last year, the NDP has held a number of ‘Community Conversations’ to further understand the needs of the community regarding specific topics.
There is still much work to do, and for the remainder of this year, we will be reviewing the information collected and undertaking a ‘health check’ of the work to date. This will inform the activities required for next year and the details of the draft NDP document, which we hope to share during 2026.
Looking to 2026, our next ‘Community Conversation’ will be held on 2nd March 2026 at the Village Hall and will consider ‘Large Scale Energy Infrastructure’ such as solar farms and wind turbines.
The Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk (our planning authority) has declared 2035 as the target date for reaching net zero emissions. Whilst the Local Plan policies already set out a pathway for delivering these ambitions for new development, our NDP must conform to this and to a nationally applicable principle of sustainable development. Through our NDP whilst we need to meet these legislated requirements, we can include policies and ambitions that more directly serve our local needs and ambitions. Getting this right will be vital in helping secure the future against threats from the rising costs of energy and community resilience against the phasing out of traditional energy sources and climate change in ways that benefit local people.
At our ‘Consultation Event’ in May 2023 over 50 attendees completed a questionnaire entitled ‘Climate Change, Sustainability & the Low Carbon Future’. The responses indicated strong support for measures to generate green energy locally. For example, 81.2% supported solar panel-based renewable energy installations if they helped reduce the cost of electricity for parishioners, while there was 66% support for wind turbine-based renewable energy. Similarly, 83% of respondents supported a policy requiring new homes to be equipped with solar water heating panels/voltaic panels & renewable heating systems.
More information about the Great Massingham NDP can be found on our website (www.greatmassinghamndp.co.uk) and on the Parish Council’s website (www.greatmassingham-pc.info/neighbourhood-plan). You are also encouraged to join our e-mail subscription list. To do this please send a request to gmndplan@yahoo.com.
The next Steering Group meetings at the Village Hall (6 pm) are arranged for Monday 8th December (not 1st December as previously announced) and Monday 2nd February 2026. Everyone is welcome to attend these.
Jess Cunningham on behalf of the NDP Steering Group