Permission for Burger King on Lime Kiln Lane, Thetford

The restaurant, on Thetford Retail Park in Lime Kiln Lane, will be on land between the existing Halfords and Jollyes Pet Shop/Farmfoods retail units.

At a meeting of Breckland Council’s planning committee on Tuesday, November 30, several objections to the project were heard. 

Conservative town councillor Barbara Tullett, who spoke at the meeting, said: "If this application is approved the residents of Magdalen Street [near the development] will suffer an increase in noise and disturbance to the rear of their properties and additional litter and anti-social behaviour with the unwelcome addition of cooking smells."

Her party colleague Jane James, who represents Thetford at all three tiers of local government, also objected.

Conservative councillor Jane James (Image: Emily Thomson)

Among other reasons she gave, she argued that having a new fast-food outlet just a two minute walk from a school would go against the national effort to combat obesity in children.

Thomas Kilvert of Pegasus Group, agents for the applicants, said the scheme was coming before the committee following collaborative working with officers and no objection from technical consultees.

He added: "We understand there are local concerns in relation to the restaurant, but we are confident the development would operate without giving rise to these concerns."

The highways department at Norfolk County Council said they did not object to the scheme, but pointed out that “a number of vehicles overrun the existing mini-roundabout [where Norwich Road meets Lime Kiln Lane] with the associated carriageway marking subject to wear”. 

They therefore recommended that improvements to the mini-roundabout be made by the applicant, as a condition of permission being granted - which will involve giving the roundabout a central dome to prevent over-running.

Breckland’s planning officers advised councillors to vote in favour of the plans - pointing out that the restaurant would boost employment and would be located in an established retail park, meaning that it complied with the district’s ‘local plan’ for development.

After committee questions, the initial vote to approve the development went five votes to six against.

But on hearing more details and a recommendation for refusal failing, a second vote saw members finally approve the plans, six votes to five.