Diss: Home next to former Conservative Club approved

A bid to build a two-bed property on Denmark Street, overlooking the Diss Mere, has been given the green light by South Norfolk Council (SNC).

It will sit next to the former Conservative Club building, called Grasmere, which is in the process of being converted into five apartments by the same developer, following an earlier planning application. 

At a meeting to discuss the second scheme, neighbours and the parish council called for it to be rejected.

Emma Bernard, a neighbour, said her property would be forced to look out on "blank grey walls" and it would be built so close it could threaten the foundations of her house. 

She insisted she was not against new homes, having supported the original five-property plan, but said the proposal would see the new house built 1.5 metres from her bedroom, branding it “development creep”.  

Eric Taylor, planning chairman at Diss Town Council, said it was a development the town was “suffering more and more of” with fears it would impact the view of the mere.

Diss Mere (Image: Archant)

“It’s a development by stealth, where an uncontroversial application is put in and then bits are added on," he said.

“There is no doubt that the town council would not have supported the original application had this been part of it.” 

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Chris Burnard, the developer, insisted the scheme would help improve Denmark Street's 'Street scene' and benefit the town.

He said: "We are by no means trying to spoil that view, we have tried to keep that view to the mere, which is a great asset to Diss.

"I want to build a great building that is an asset to the town."

The plans were approved by five votes for and four against.