North Norfolk District Council’s (NNDC) Local Plan will run until 2040 after being passed unanimously by councillors this week.

It includes plans for thousands of new properties, a crackdown on second homes and measures to support the county’s ageing population.

The extensive document sets out a detailed framework for housing, infrastructure and environmental management, aiming to balance development pressures within the area’s unique character and heritage.

North Norfolk District Council based in Cromer (Image: EDP)

The new plan continues NNDC's firm stance on second homes.

It committed to a continuation of a “second home tax”, first introduced in April, which applies a 100pc council tax premium on furnished properties not used as primary residences.

Under the tax, long term empty homes face even harsher penalties, with charges doubling after a year and rising to 300pc for properties left vacant for a decade.

Holiday lets and second homes are concentrated in streets leading down to the harbour in Wells (Image: Chris Bishop)

It was introduced in an attempt to tackle local concerns about the 5,700 properties........

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