Have your say!...

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Breckland Council's Local Plan Development Strategy Consultation is open.

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Breckland’s new Local Plan will determine growth and development in the district for the next 25 years. It will help ensure that planning decisions are made in the best interests of our communities.

Everyone with an interest in their village, town or local area can have their say. The more people that get involved, the better the aspirations of our communities will be reflected. 

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What’s new?

Thank you to everyone who has shared feedback as part of the initial phase of community consultation – Issues and Options. 

A review of the feedback shared so far raised further questions and the Council is now adding an extra phase of community consultation to further consider key issues related to growth across the district. 

This extra consultation will be open until Monday 19th February.

Explore new information on the following issues and, where relevant, share your views:

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• Sustaining rural community services and which parishes have been identified as Local Service Centres.

• Further measures to protect Breckland’s countryside and different ways to think about defining settlements – towns and villages –across the district. 

• Alternative development strategy options to help decide the best way to accommodate future growth in Breckland.

• Potential development sites and a new proposed criteria on deciding which sites shared during the Call for Sites might be suitable. 

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Click on any of the links above to read through the information and submit your views.

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About:

Swanton Morley is a picturesque, rural village and thriving community in the heart of the Norfolk countryside,  15 miles west of Norwich and 3 miles north of the market town of Dereham. It is a large parish of 2,200 villagers (census 2021), build on the south side of the Wensum River. 

 

The name ‘Swanton’ is derived from the Old English for 'herdsman’s enclosure', and ‘Morley’ refers to the fact that the parish was held by 'Robert de Morli' in 1346. The parish is recorded in the Doomsday Book and mention is made of a church. Archaeological surveys have found evidence of a settlement from as early as the Neronian period (54–68 AD), as well as a small number of objects from Roman and medieval times. Although there is no remaining evidence of the Saxon church, All Saints Parish Church is one of the earliest examples of the perpendicular style. 

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Today, the village benefits from a primary school, a doctor's surgery, the church, 2 public houses, a general store and a butcher's shop with delicatessen. There are numerous clubs, societies and sports operating in the village, using local facilities.

 

The village is served by a pro-active Parish Council who are responsible for a number of amenities including playgrounds, village hall, common lands and the burial ground. There is a real sense of community, with villagers volunteering and supporting activities.

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