Policy CT3 Provision and Retention of Local Facilities and Services

New or improved community facilities or services will be permitted within the Principal and Secondary Settlements, Service Villages and Coastal Service Villages, or within the Countryside where they meet the identified needs of the local community. 

Development proposals that would result in the loss of sites or premises currently, or last used for, important local facilities and services ^(lxx) will not be permitted unless: 

• alternative provision of equivalent or better quality is available in the area or will be provided and made available prior to commencement of redevelopment; or
• it can be demonstrated that there is no reasonable prospect of retention at its current site; and if it is a commercial operation, that a viability test has demonstrated that the use is no longer viable and that all reasonable efforts have been made to sell or let the property at a realistic price for a period of at least 12 months. 

Proposals on designated Health Care Campuses at Cromer, Fakenham, Kelling, North Walsham and Wells-next-the-Sea that would otherwise accord with Development Plan policies but would result in the loss of health care facilities will not be permitted unless a replacement facility of equal or greater community benefit is provided for that immediate locality and made available prior to the commencement of development. 

(lxx) Important local facilities and services include a primary school, convenience store, bank, post office, public house, petrol filling station, public hall or indoor sports facility, theatres and cinemas and other cultural facilities and small scale health care facility where the facility is within the Countryside or is the last of its kind within a Principal or Secondary Settlement or Service Village.