Hunstanton Town Council objects to Searles Leisure Resort’s plans for office block and showroom – but says it would support it after change in design

Councillors have raised their objections to plans for a new office block and caravan showroom at a seaside leisure resort.

At Hunstanton Town Council’s full council meeting on Wednesday, the authority decided to object to Searles Leisure Resort’s proposals, describing them as “imposing” and “overbearing”.

However, councillors said they supported Searles’ plans “in principle”, stating they would “welcome a different design”.

The application would see an existing bungalow demolished before a part-single-storey and part-three-storey office block was built, including a caravan sales showroom, and the creation of 12 parking spaces.

In its planning statement, Searles said: “Searles Leisure Resort is one of the biggest employers in Hunstanton with around 260 employees and has attracted visitors and their holiday spending to Hunstanton, Heacham and surrounding areas for almost 70 years.

“This proposal will optimise the resort’s operations and output by creating a central administration hub, and the proposed showroom and sales office will allow for a higher quality experience for prospective purchasers, both of which will help to increase the resort’s contribution to the local economy.”

It adds that the bungalow, which has remained vacant for the past year, is currently “uninhabitable due to the need for significant renovations throughout”.

The full council meeting heard from Cllr Paul Kidd, chair of the town council's planning committee, who said the new office block was a “rather imposing structure”, which would be “overbearing on the neighbour”.

Cllr Wendy Croucher raised concerns that the building would “steal” the natural light that would otherwise benefit the neighbouring property.

And Cllr Jordan Cribb said: “I support it in principle – I don’t see any issues with the principle, but the height is significant.”

Hunstanton mayor Cllr Michael Ruston agreed and said: “I got a phone call from a woman who owns holiday lets at the rear.

“My feeling is that were there to be that three-storey build, it would darken her kitchen considerably.”

He added: “I support the principle if they were to set it back a bit further from the road.”

Cllr Kidd said if the proposed building was altered so that the first and second floors were by the entrance to Searles, there would not be an issue.

“We would welcome a different design,” he added.

The council voted to object to the plans, which West Norfolk Council will decide on in the coming months.