Holme-next-the-Sea's Neighbourhood Plan (NDP) has been crowned Best Plan in this year’s East of England RTPI | Awards for Planning Excellence. The awards highlight exceptional examples of how planning and planners have a positive impact on our quality of life in creating exceptional places and protecting our environment.
In presenting the award on behalf of the RTPI panel of judges, Robert Purton said:
"The level of research and engagement undertaken by the steering group during the Plan's production is impressive. The interrelated drivers of the AONB, Flood Zones and Biodiversity loss have shaped a forward-looking plan that includes innovative policies on natural capital and ecosystem services. The Plan benefited from the positive participation and endorsement from statutory consultees, including the Environment Agency."
Lynn Devereux, Chair of the Parish Council said she was absolutely delighted to be accepting the Award on behalf of the community of Holme-next-the-Sea. She thanked the NDP Team and the many parishioners who had contributed to the Plan and acknowledged the support and encouragement of the professional planning community especially planning adviser Richard High and the team at Kings Lynn & West Norfolk Borough Council.
Lynn said that developing a Neighbourhood Plan had highlighted the enormous impact that the planning system can have on our Quality of Life and encouraged parishioners to really engage with the planning system. She thanked the RTPI for recognising Holme’s efforts and said she hoped that this award would show other small communities that they can develop successful plans that could make a difference to people’s lives.
In winning this award, Holme’s plan is described as a community-led plan providing an innovative approach to meeting the significant and complex challenges threatening the sustainability of a small Norfolk Coast AONB parish https://holmentspc.com/ .
In the referendum held on the 22nd July Holme’s parishioners voted emphatically in support of the Neighbourhood Plan with 90% in favour of the NDP being used by the Borough Council to assist in determining planning applications. 61% of the electorate voted which is twice the average in an NDP referendum.
