92 new homes planned for Stoke Ferry despite protests

West Norfolk council's planning committee agreed outline permission for two sites in Stoke Ferry, near Downham Market, to be developed in 2019.

Now Amber Rei has submitted detailed plans for 62 homes off Lynn Road and 30 off nearby Furlong Drove.

Both sites are used by feed company 2Agriculture, which plans to demolish its mill on Lynn Road and feed store on Furlong Drove.

The mill on Lynn Road, Stoke Ferry, would be demolished as part of proposals for 92 new homes in the village Picture: Chris Bishop (Image: Chris Bishop)

Amber Rei told councillors the development would remove a significant number of lorries from roads in and around the village.

But people living around the site - including the late performer and screenwriter Kit Hesketh-Harvey, who lived in the village until he passed away on February 1 - wanted 2Agriculture to renovate properties it owns around the square in Stoke Ferry.

They were also angry that a green field site formed part of the Lynn Road proposals.

In a planning statement, Amber Rei's agents Pegasus Group state: "The Mill site contains a range of predominantly industrial type buildings of large scale. These have a significantly detrimental impact on the character of Stoke Ferry."

Thirty of the properties would be built on the site of a feed store on Furlong Drove Picture: Chris Bishop (Image: Chris Bishop)

It adds the mill "can be very noisy and causes air, noise and traffic pollution issues".

Of the Furlong Drove site, Pegasus say homes will be set back behind "a substantial belt of landscaping including new tree planting".

Both sites will have a mix of two, three and four-bedroom houses. A fifth of the properties would be affordable homes, available to rent or via shared ownership.

2ASgriculture plans to relocate its operations from Stoke Ferry to Snetterton, where it has been given permission to build a new £40m feed mill.

A decision is expected from West Norfolk council over the Stoke Ferry proposals later this year.