Rejection of Stoke Ferry flats and shops bid appealed

Norton Hill hoped to build two shops with flats above on a parcel of land off Furlong Road in Stoke Ferry.

The plans proved controversial as a previous developer had promised locals to create a community space, with a village hall and green areas as part of a larger development.

The plans proved controversial among villagers (Image: Newsquest)

But this failed to come to fruition after the firm went bust, leaving villagers feeling "abandoned".

A decade later, Norton Hill has since put forward its plans for the shops and flats.

In January this year, West Norfolk Council planning committee members blocked the application after it was decided that the development would be outside the settlement boundaries and therefore went against local policies. 

READ MORE: Rural village set to grow by 25pc after two major housing schemes approved

Stoke Ferry's existing village hall in Lynn Road (Image: Google)

It was also worried it could harm the conservation area.

Norton Hill is now appealing to the Planning Inspectorate, the government department that presides over planning disputes.

It will be decided later in the year following a review of the decision by the inspector.