Applications to expand Wild Ken Hill in Norfolk given green light at West Norfolk Council planning committee meeting

Two applications to kick-start a major expansion at a popular nature reserve have been given the green light.

At West Norfolk Council’s planning committee meeting this morning, bosses at Wild Ken Hill, based between Heacham and Snettisham, were granted permission to convert existing farm buildings into a new visitor centre, cafe, retail space and indoor play building.

And as part of a separate bid, they were also given the go-ahead to change land use elsewhere on the site to provide 20 touring caravan pitches, 40 tent pitches and an adjoining visitor building.

The applications, both submitted last year, had been deferred at an April meeting amid traffic and highways concerns from Cllr Terry Parish, who has since been elected leader of the borough council.

Norfolk County Council subsequently carried out a feasibility study into the junction between Lamsey Lane and Lynn Road – the proposed new entrance to the nature reserve which has caused the majority of concern.

Both applications were frequently described as “inextricably linked” at today’s meeting.

Dominic Buscall, who set up Wild Ken Hill in 2019, told councillors: “This is not a publicity exercise.

“We were disappointed by the deferral, but understand and respect the committee’s decision.

“We have done everything asked of us by the committee, and much more.”

Safety concerns regarding the junction between Lamsey Lane and the A149 Lynn Road were frequently discussed throughout the planning process.

Cllr Paul Rawlinson, speaking on behalf of Heacham Parish Council – which originally objected to the first application on those grounds – said it would “take it in good faith” that the required safety measures will be put in place.

Cllr Parish, speaking in his role as a councillor for Heacham, described the junction as “currently dangerous” – but that he trusted Wild Ken Hill bosses to “do the right thing”.

And Henry Head, the director of neighbouring business Norfolk Lavender, urged councillors to “keep death off the road”.

Possible fixes put forwards by councillors included an advisory right-turn only sign at the nature reserve’s exit, but others suggested this would be either difficult to enforce or unsuitable for residents wishing to turn left towards Heacham.

A Norfolk County Council highways officer said they would be happy to put such advisory signage in place.

On the A149 close to the junction, Cllr Anthony Bubb said: “Hopefully we are going to get a roundabout, but hopefully it will only be a single-lane roundabout.”

But Cllr Martin Storey described Wild Ken Hill as a whole as “a very good scheme for West Norfolk”, while Cllr Jo Rust – in her first meeting as chair of planning – also voiced her approval.

Cllr Rawlinson objected to the second application on behalf of Heacham Parish Council on the grounds that it does not conform with the village’s Neighbourhood Plan.

Cllr Parish, who helped to create that plan, also voiced concerns about the future of the 20-pitch site.

“If the application comes forward as a sole application, it would have fallen foul of the Neighbourhood Plan,” he said.

“I did ask him (Dominic Buscall) ‘what if you die? What is going to happen to Wild Ken Hill and these applications?’”

Cllr Parish was assured that Mr Buscall’s family would be ready to step in – and council bosses were also satisfied that the application did comply with Heacham’s Neighbourhood Plan.

Councillors unaminously approved the second application.