NEW: Sustaining rural community services 

Throughout the consultation, we have heard how important it is to ensure essential community services are in place for people who live in villages and rural locations across Breckland. Sustaining these vital services – including GPs, dentists, education and leisure – relies on funding from new development. 

Within the Settlement Hierarchy, a Local Service Centre is defined as a parish that has five key elements – a primary school, a village shop, public transport, a community facility (such as a village hall, pub, restaurant or cafe) and employment. 

As part of the evidence base supporting the current Local Plan, 18 Local Service Centres were identified across Breckland. These are:

• Ashill

• Banham

• Bawdeswell

• Garboldisham

• Great Ellingham

• Harling

• Hockering

• Kenninghall

• Litcham

• Mattishall

• Narborough

• Necton

• North Elmham

• Old Buckenham

• Shipdham

• Sporle

• Swanton Morley

• Weeting

Changes to  Local Service Centres

Noting that public transport provision and working patterns have changed following the Covid-19 pandemic, the Council considers that all 18 villages previously identified as Local Services Centres still meet the criteria. 

With the introduction of the new Swaffham Flexibus, Mundford has now been identified as a Local Service Centre. Beeston now also meets the criteria to be a Local Service Centre, following the purchase of the Ploughshare community pub. 

Whilst Weeting is defined as a Local Service Centre, it is not considered appropriate for housing growth due to its location within the Brecks Special Protection Area.

Villages with Boundaries

A review of fifteen Villages with boundaries defined within the current Local Plan has been undertaken. These are settlements that include at least three of the five services or facilities necessary to be defined as a Local Service Centre. The latest review of these settlements has concluded that these remain appropriate. 

Find out more

A full analysis of Local Service Centres and the methodology for deciding which parishes meet the criteria are explained in the full Consultation Paper: A Review of Local Service Centre Parishes.

A full analysis of villages with boundaries and the methodology for deciding which parishes meet the criteria are explained in the full Consultation Paper: Villages with Boundaries.

The Council is looking at alternative development strategies and would like your views. Find out more about the alternative development strategy options and share feedback.