Residents who staged a placard protest against plans for 16 new homes at Heacham have praised councillors who rejected the development.
Members of the West Norfolk planning committee refused permission for the scheme to demolish 30 and 32 Church Lane in the village and build a range of terraced and detached homes, including three affordable houses, after making a site visit on Thursday.
The decision came the day after nearby householders staged a demonstration against the proposals.
Protestor Christopher Deeble said after the decision: “On behalf of all of the residents of Church Lane, I would like to say thank-you to the council for listening to our protest and preventing the application going through.”
The site visit followed deliberations at the committee’s meeting in Lynn last Monday.
The applicant, Stephen Doughty, said the scheme had evolved to try to take into consideration objections it had attracted from residents and public bodies.
“We have done our best to negotiate and talk to everyone involved,” he said.
Objectors included the parish council, which described the plan as cramped and over-intensive and said demand for affordable homes was actually quite low in Heacham.
The impact on the conservation area and a Grade II listed building, White City, was a further cause for concern. Safety fears about increasing pressure on the Church Lane junction with the A149 were also raised, while nine letters of objection were received.
An officers’ report to the meeting said the development was appropriate for the site and would not have a detrimental impact on the character of the area, or cause significant harm to neighbours’ homes or road safety.
But Heacham councillor Stephanie Smeaton feared the plans would increase noise, lead to a loss of privacy and habitat.
She said: “Nothing can persuade me that this development is in keeping with the area. We are proud of our village. Help us keep it that way.”
David Collis praised the plans but was concerned about traffic flows along Church Lane.
Brian Long said there had been one fatal and other serious accidents near the A149 junction, while Zipha Christopher said: “That crossroads is lethal. Additional traffic would be disastrous.”
Adrian Lawrence asked if the garages would become “glorified garden sheds” leading to on-road parking on the development.
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