Holme-next-the-Sea Neighbourhood Plan has been crowned Best Plan in this year’s East of England Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Awards for Planning Excellence (2022).
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 Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (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 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:
“Developing a Neighbourhood Plan highlighted the enormous impact the planning system can have on our quality of life and encouraged parishioners to really engage with the planning system.”
She 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.
It 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.
