Public Consultation Proposed Local Development Order (LDO) Egmere North Norfolk District Council wishes to secure for the district the economic and job creation benefits associated with the operation and maintenance of offshore wind energy schemes off the north Norfolk coast. It is proposing to designate an area of land at Egmere, to the west of Walsingham and south of Wells‐next‐the‐Sea, where companies supporting offshore turbine developments can locate their operations. The Council would seek to accommodate this investment through establishing a simplified planning regime, known as a Local Development Order. The Council wishes to invite public comment on these proposals. This leaflet aims to: 
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Outline what a Local Development Order is. Explain why land at Egmere is being proposed for this purpose. Outline the detail of the proposal. Invite public comment on the proposal. What is a Local Development Order? 
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A Local Development Order (LDO) grants planning permission (subject to conditions) for specific developments described within the Order; meaning that it is not necessary for investors / occupiers of such developments to submit planning applications for their proposals. Development proposals which do not fall within the carefully prescribed definitions provided by the LDO will need to secure some other form of planning permission – i.e. through a planning application made to North Norfolk District Council; or as may be granted consent under the Town and Country Planning General Permitted Development Order (GDPO). It is proposed that the Egmere LDO will exist for an initial period of five years from the date of its adoption; complementing the period of time over which it is anticipated that the development of the Dudgeon and Race Bank offshore wind developments will be taken forward. The operation of the LDO can however be reviewed and extended for a further period of time, subject to further consultation. Objectives 
North Norfolk District Council has proposed designating an LDO at Egmere in support of the significant offshore wind energy developments off the north Norfolk coast. The Port of Wells provides the most cost‐effective location from which to base survey vessels and staff during the pre‐construction survey and construction phases of development, and in the longer term operation of the schemes, being the closest port facility from which to deploy operational and maintenance personnel. The proposal to establish an LDO seeks to make use of the existing facilities in the Port of Wells outer harbour, but does 
not propose any further development of that facility in terms of its footprint within the harbour. The Council wishes to secure as many economic and employment benefits from offshore wind developments for North Norfolk as possible. The Council, working with local partners, particularly the Wells Harbour Commissioners and the Holkham and Walsingham Estates, wishes to create and promote a positive environment for inward investment by wind energy companies and their sub‐contractors through a number of activities including the following.  Identifying appropriate land and property opportunities.  Simplifying the local planning regime.  Coordinating supply chain and cluster development.  Promoting skills development among local people. The opportunities presented by the offshore wind and wider renewable energy sector are expected to diversify and develop the local economy. The proposed designation of an LDO at Egmere is a key element of the Council’s ‘offer’ to such investors. The objectives of the LDO are therefore as follows 
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Designating an area of land where investment by wind energy companies and their suppliers / sub‐contractors can be directed and accommodated in principle and where a simplified planning regime exists for such developments. Allowing permitted development rights for new developments proposed in support of the offshore wind energy sector. Fostering inward investment and economic growth through allowing offshore wind energy businesses and their suppliers, sub‐contractors and support businesses, to invest in the district and benefit from co‐location / cluster development. Why has Egmere been identified for this purpose? Egmere has been proposed by the District Council as a location for such development for a number of reasons.  Its relative proximity to the port facilities and town of Wells‐next‐the‐Sea.  Its location outside of the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which respects the quality of the landscape and environment around Wells and its importance in supporting the local tourism economy.  Its strategic location on the B1105 route between Fakenham and Wells‐next‐the‐Sea.  The concentration of employment uses already at Egmere which provide a ‘backdrop’‐‐ for further development and opportunities to improve/secure new uses for existing sites and buildings at this location, improve means of access into some sites and the opportunity to develop some greenfield sites well related to the existing commercial development at this location – i.e. north of the Holkham Estate’s grain storage facilities and east of the area of woodland east of the B1105 road.  SCIRA, the operators of the Sheringham Shoal offshore wind scheme, has already established an office and warehouse facility at this location. Th
he proposaal  Design
nating approx. 28 hectares of landd for develo
opment und
der the LDO .  Mix off brownfield
d and green
nfield land.
 Existin
ng residential area is exxcluded from
m these pro
oposals. Tyypes of devvelopmentt  Develo
opments directly supporting the ooperational and mainte
enance requuirements o
of the offfshore wind
d energy sector, such aas offices, w
warehouses and ancilla ry facilities..  Electro
onic commu
unications e
equipment used in sup
pport of offsshore wind energy operattions i.e. masts, aerialss, satellite ddishes up to
o a maximum
m height of f 25 metres.. Prrinciples If aapproved in
n principle, the Local Developmennt Order will be supported by the ppreparation
n of a de
esign guide, access straategy and landscaping pproposals, b
based on th
he plan beloow. Th
he consulttation pro
ocess / wh
hat happe ns next The Council iss inviting co
omments on
n the propo sed Egmere
e Local Deve
elopment O
Order betwe
een Mo
onday 21 Jaanuary and Friday 15 M
March 20133. The Council w
welcomes co
omments on the propoosed LDO in
n terms of its purpose, scale, highw
ways and landscapee impact. Yo
ou can subm
mit your co mments:  onlinee at http://cconsult.nortth‐norfolk.ggov.uk/porttal and follo
owing the linnks to the proposed Egmeree LDO Consultation  in writting to the Planning Po
olicy Team, North Norffolk District Council, Hoolt Road, Cromer NR27 9EN  By em
mail to plann
ning.policy@
@north‐norrfolk.gov.uk The District Council’s Cab
binet will co
onsider reprresentation
ns made/recceived befoore decidingg wh
hether to prroceed with
h the LDO proposal. Anny proposal will require
e endorsem
ment by the Secretary of SState for Communities and Local G
Government.