Consultations
We value your views and carry out public consultation as part of our planning and decision making process.
On this page you can see information about our current and recent consultations.
If you wish receive updates on the Broads Plan and Local Plan please contact us to be added to our consultation database.
Current consultations
Beccles Article 4 Direction
To help protect the character, appearance and amenity of some conservation areas, Article 4 Directions are made to increase planning controls. There is currently an Article 4 Direction covering much of the Broad Authority’s part of Beccles Conservation Area, but due to changes in the legislation and guidance, we have decided that this should be reviewed.
As a result it is proposed to cancel the existing Article 4 Direction (dating from 1997) and make a new non-immediate Article 4 Direction which would cover a smaller area and restrict fewer permitted development rights.
The Article 4 Directions to enable this to happen were made on 4 April 2025 and between 14 April and 23 May 2025 there will be a period of public consultation. Comments will then be considered and depending on the results of the consultation, Planning Committee Members will decide whether to confirm the Directions in July. If the Directions are confirmed they will come into force on 4 August 2025 and the 1997 Article 4 Direction would then be cancelled. Please note that the existing Article 4 Direction remains active in the meantime.
There will be a public drop-in event on 9 May between 2-6pm at Blyburgate Hall, Beccles, NR34 9TF. Please pop along to speak to officers and find out more.
Documents:
- Article 4 Direction Beccles To Cancel (PDF)
- Article 4 Direction Beccles To Cancel Map (PDF)
- New Article 4 Direction Beccles Proposed (PDF)
- New Article 4 Direction Beccles Proposed Map (PDF)
- Living in an Article 4 Direction Area Guidance (PDF)
The Direction, map and accompanying documentation can be viewed from 9am on Monday 14 April 2025 to 5pm on Friday 23 May at the following locations:
- Broads Authority, Yare House, 62-64 Thorpe Road, Norwich, NR1 1RY, 9am to 5pm
- Beccles Library, Blyburgate, Beccles during opening hours
Comments on the Direction can be submitted to the Authority in one of the following ways, to be received no later than 11.45pm on Friday 23 May 2025:
- By email to planning@broads-authority.gov.uk
- In writing to: Planning, Broads Authority, Yare House, 62-64 Thorpe Road, Norwich, NR1 1RY
Recent consultations
Broads Authority Design Guide and Code Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)
In accordance with the requirements of Regulation 12 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012, the Broads Authority’s consulted on its Draft Design Guide and Code SPD.
This consultation commenced on 5 December 2024 until 16 January 2025.
Local Cycling Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) for the Broads National Park
The Broads Authority sought the views of members of the public (residents / visitors) businesses, charities, groups and other interested parties, as part of a consultation to develop a Local Cycling Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) for the Broads National Park.
This initiative is funded by Active Travel England's National Parks Capability Fund. The objective of this consultation is to gather input from the community on potential improvements to walking and cycling infrastructure both to and within the Broads Authority Executive Area.
This consultation commenced on 26 June and closed on 31 October 2024.
For further information about this consultation, please contact: info@broadsactivetravel.com
Neatishead Conservation Area Appraisal
Due to its special architectural and historic interest, Neatishead village centre was first designated as a conservation area in 1975, with some small extensions to the area in 2011.
Conservation Area Appraisals are documents produced by the Local Planning Authority that set out what is special about a conservation area and provide management and enhancement proposals for it. The document should help to inform those carrying out development in the area and inform planning decisions.
It is good practice to review Conservation Area Appraisals on a regular basis and so the Broads Authority, as the local Planning Authority for part of the conservation area, reviewed this document in September/November 2024.
The deadline for submissions was Thursday 14 October 2024.
Body Worn Camera (BWC) trial for front-line staff
The Broads Authority sought the views of members of the public and interested parties on the principle of front-line staff (Rangers, Quay Rangers and Planning Enforcement Officers) wearing body-worn cameras (BWC) to provide digital audio and images, for law enforcement purposes and potential prosecutions when staff have faced aggression and violent behaviours.
Information such as videos and audio recordings that can identify an individual are classified as personal data under the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018). Under the UK’s implementation of the EU General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), personal data must be processed with the seven data protection principles (lawfulness, fairness, transparency, purpose limitation, data minimisation, accuracy, storage limitation, integrity & confidentiality, and accountability).
Additionally, data processed for law enforcement purposes must be processed in accordance with the principles set out in Section 35 of the DPA 2018:
Law enforcement purposes are defined in DPA 2018, section 30, Part 3 as “prevention, investigation or prosecution of criminal offences, or the execution of criminal penalties, including safeguarding against threats to public security”.
The Broads Authority is a competent authority consistent with section 30 (b) of the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018) “any other person if, and to the extent that, they have statutory functions to exercise public authority or public powers for the law enforcement purposes
Under Part 3 Section 35(8) of the DPA 2018 there is another set of principles to be complied with:
a) The processing is strictly necessary for law enforcement purposes and
b) the processing meets at least one of the conditions in Schedule 8, and
c) at the time when the processing is carried out, the controller has an appropriate policy document in place.
The Broads Authority is a data controller and has in place policies and procedures concerning the UK GDPR.
To launch the pilot for BWCs, the Broads Authority has conducted (as per section 35 of the DPA 2018) a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA).
The purpose of the DPIA is to ensure proper consideration has been given to introducing this new technology because it will infringe on an individual’s data privacy rights, but the DPIA helps data controllers identify the risks and put actions in place to minimise them, for example, training or processes and procedures.
The Broads Authority's use of the BWCs is deemed necessary for the exercise of a function conferred on a person by an enactment or rule of law, as described in the DPA 2018 Section 8.
The Broads Authority will be launching a pilot scheme and consultation on Monday 8 July 2024 to test the effectiveness of body-worn camera technology in achieving law enforcement objectives.
The pilot will end on 30 August 2024 and the consultation will close on 13 September 2024.
Reporting Timetable
- 7 November Navigation Committee – consultation on the principle and effectiveness of BWCs
- 29 November Broads Authority – decision on whether to proceed with the use of body-worn cameras
Supporting Documentation
- Draft Policy on Body Worn Cameras (PDF)
- Questions and answers (PDF)
- Data Protection Impact Assessment (for the trial period) (PDF)
The deadline for comments was 4pm on 13 September 2024.
Supplementary information
The Norfolk and Suffolk Broads Act 1988 Section 9 (1) appoints the Authority’s Navigation Committee as the statutory consultee for matters concerning the use or enjoyment of the navigation area, including the annual process of determining navigational charges.
The Broads Act 2009 amends the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads Act 1988.
To see the full content of the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads Act 1988 as written please use this link Norfolk and Suffolk Broads Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk)
To see the full details of the Broads Authority Act 2009 amendments to Section 9 please use this link Broads Authority Act 2009 (legislation.gov.uk)