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
Bungay and Ditchingham Dam Article 4 Directions
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 the Bungay and Ditchingham Dam conservation areas, but due to changes in the legislation and guidance, we have decided that this should be reviewed. East Suffolk Council are also carrying out a review to their part of Bungay conservation area.
As a result it is proposed to serve an Article 4 direction to cancel the existing Article 4 Direction (dating from 1998) and make two new non-immediate Article 4 Directions. The first will cover a more limited part of Bungay conservation area and restrict fewer permitted development rights. The second will cover an extended part of Ditchingham Dam conservation area (as the conservation area was extended in 2013), with some buildings that were previously in the Article 4 area proposed to be removed.
The Article 4 Directions to enable this to happen were made on 16 January 2026 and between 26 January and 9 March 2026 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 April. If the Directions are confirmed they will come into force on 22 April 2026 and the 1998 Article 4 Direction would then be cancelled.
Please note that the existing Article 4 Direction remains active in the meantime and all of the buildings would continue to be within the conservation areas.
There will be a public drop-in event on 25 February 2026 between 3-6pm at Bungay Community Centre, Old Grammar Lane, Bungay, NR35 1PU. Please pop along to speak to officers and find out more.
The Direction, map and accompanying documentation can be viewed from Monday 26 January 2026 to Monday 9 March at the following locations:
- Broads Authority, Yare House, 62-64 Thorpe Road, Norwich, NR1 1RY (9am to 5pm)
- Bungay Community Library, Wharton Street, Bungay, NR35 1EL (during opening hours)
As well as online via the links below.
Article 4 Direction to cancel existing Bungay and Ditchingham Dam Article 4 Direction
- Direction to cancel the existing Bungay and Ditchingham Dam Article 4 Direction (PDF)
- Cancelled Article 4 Direction map (PDF)
Proposed new Bungay Article 4 Direction
- Proposed Bungay Article 4 Direction (PDF)
- Bungay Article 4 Direction map (PDF)
- Bungay Article 4 Guidance (PDF)
Proposed new Ditchingham Dam Article 4 Direction
- Proposed Ditchingham Dam Article 4 Direction (PDF)
- Ditchingham Dam Article 4 Direction map (PDF)
- Ditchingham Dam Article 4 Guidance (PDF)
Comments on the Direction can be submitted to the Authority in one of the following ways, to be received no later than Monday 9 March 2026.
- 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 Landscape Character Assessment Supplementary Planning Document Consultation
The Broads is a protected landscape with a strong relationship between the land, water and people. This Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) sets out how this interplay has shaped the landscape of the Broads over many centuries. Key to ensuring that the special qualities of the Broads are protected is an understanding of what makes the Broads special. It is intended that the Broads Authority’s Landscape Character Assessment should achieve this.
This document is an updated version of the current Broads Authority Landscape Character Assessment (2016). Amendments have been made to ensure that it is in accordance with current guidance and reflects any changes that have occurred to the landscape in the intervening period. It will form part of the evidence base for the Broads Authority’s new Local Plan and informs landscape policies within that forthcoming document.
The purpose of this LCA SPD is to provide an assessment of the different landscape characters within the Broads Authority Executive area to enable informed planning and management of the landscape, for example to meet the requirements of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). It will be used to inform planning applications as well as used in decision-making.
Due to its size, the document is divided into a number of separate documents that can be accessed below:
- Landscape Character Assessment Section 1 and 2 - Introduction and Evolution and History (PDF)
- Landscape Character Assessment Section 3 - Introduction and Map (PDF)
- Landscape Character Assessment Section 3 - Waveney Valley (PDF)
- Landscape Character Assessment Section 3 - Yare, Chet Valley, Haddiscoe Island and Breydon Water (PDF)
- Landscape Character Assessment Section 3 - Bure Valley, Trinity Broads, Ant and Thurne Valley (PDF)
- Landscape Character Assessment - References and bibliography (PDF)
- Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Screening (PDF)
We consulted on the document between Monday 12 January and Monday 9 February 2026.
Broads Local Plan Consultation - Second Regulation 19 version
We consulted on the Local Plan again as some sections were not included with the Sustainability Appraisal. The Local Plan itself had not changed (other than to include an explanation of why we are consulting again and to include the new deadline for comments and these minor changes are in bright pink). If individuals provided comments on the first Regulation 19 consultation (that ended 26 September 2025), their comments were valid and logged.
The documentation can be found below:
- Regulation 19 Local Plan (PDF) (November 2025)
- Sustainability Appraisal (PDF) (November 2025)
- Habitats Regulation Assessment (PDF) (May 2025)
There was also a second interactive map available.
For this consultation, we asked participants to fill out an online form.
The deadline for responses to the consultation on this document was 4pm on Friday 16 January 2026.
Broads Local Plan Consultation
This was the last round of consultation before we submit the Local Plan to the Planning Inspector for examination.
The documentation can be found below:
There was also an interactive map available.
For this consultation, we asked participants to fill out an online form.
The deadline for responses to the consultation on this document was 4pm on Friday 26 September 2025.
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 was 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 could be viewed from 9am on Monday 14 April to 5pm on Friday 23 May 2025 and comments on the Direction were invited to be submitted to the Authority by Friday 23 May 2025.
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.
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)