West Norfolk councillors approve plans for retired army major’s ‘forever home’ in Terrington St Clement

A councillor suggested policy-makers “aren’t on the real planet” as he and his colleagues ignored advice and approved plans for a retired army major’s “forever home”.

West Norfolk borough councillor Martin Storey launched a scathing attack on planning guidance during a planning committee meeting where members were advised to throw out the veteran’s proposal.

The applicant, Stephen Clarkson, spent 13 years as an ammunition technical officer involved in counter terrorism and bomb disposal and revealed in his application that his health had suffered as a result.

Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2011, he and his wife had invested more than £350,000, – which they described as their life savings – in building a three-bedroom “forever home” in St Clement.

Despite purchasing the site more than a year ago, a series of planning mishaps had left the couple living in a log cabin at the site while they awaited permission to carry out work.

Documents submitted by Mr Clarkson report that he underwent brain surgery at the end of 2023, and he admitted he is now showing “signs of accelerating deterioration” and has “no plan B”.

The couple had intended to convert the barn on Green Marsh Road into a single-storey home - with the property having previously secured permission under Class Q regulations to be converted into two dwellings.

Class Q regulations allow for the conversion of former agricultural buildings into residential properties without full planning permission.

However, part of the barn collapsed during the removal of asbestos, which under planning rules lost Mr Clarkson the Class Q ruling and required the couple to reapply for new planning approval.

“With failing health and ever reducing financial capability we are running out of time and resources,” Mr Clarkson wrote.

“Our future is very much in your hands.”

Despite these pleas, officers recommended refusal on the grounds that rebuilding the collapsed barn as a new dwelling would constitute a new, isolated home - which is generally discouraged in rural areas. They had also raised concerns about flooding risks.

The guidance prompted a strong response from West Norfolk councillors on Monday morning.

Pushing for approval, Cllr Storey questioned the rationale of Government policy.

He said: “I do respect the officer’s position but I cannot see for the life of me why this recommendation is refused.

“We or the Government come up with these policies and they must like using up paper or employing people to come up with things. I just cant see it.

“We are here to make Norfolk and West Norfolk a better place, visually and for the people who live here, and if we keep turning these things down we are not doing our jobs.

“I do think we should meet with people making these policies because they aren’t on the real planet. This is acceptable on all grounds.”

Cllr Tom de Winton described the Class Q ruling as “a hole in the policy”, adding: “This is a very peculiar situation where basically a class is considered to be remote.

“There’s actually no position or policy for that. It’s a conundrum, it’s completely out of the usual.”

The councillors’ intervention appeared to resonate with their colleagues, and the plans were subsequently approved unanimously, overturning the original recommendations.