A former village school that closed its doors due to dwindling pupil numbers could be turned into new housing for local people - despite being in a second homes hotspot. 

The primary school at Sedgeford, near Hunstanton, closed down four years ago because it was running out of pupils.

The former primary school at Sedgeford, which closed four years agoThe former primary school at Sedgeford, which closed four years ago (Image: Chris Bishop)

At the same time, villagers in their 20s and 30s could no longer afford to buy a property in the hamlet near Heacham, where a two-bed cottage is currently on sale for £335,000.

Now plans for 20 houses and flats on the Ringstead Road site have been revealed at a public consultation, before a formal planning application is submitted.

A graphic shows the mixture of housing proposed for the former Sedgeford School siteA graphic shows the mixture of housing proposed for the former Sedgeford School site (Image: Repton Homes/Torrington Properties)

They show a mix of two, three and four-bed houses, while the main school building will be converted into one and two-bed flats.

Developers Repton Homes - which is owned by Norfolk County Council - and Torrington Properties said in consultation papers: "There is currently a shortfall of housing within West Norfolk and there is a need for more sites to come forward to address it.

An artist's impression of how houses proposed for the site might lookAn artist's impression of how houses proposed for the site might look (Image: Repton Homes/Torrington Properties)

"This scheme provides the opportunity to deliver new housing suitable for families, first time buyers and the elderly with good access to amenities in nearby towns and villages."

In 2019, villagers agreed a neighbourhood plan which stated any new development in the community, where around 40pc of homes are holiday properties, should be permanent residences.

Sedgeford has a high proportion of second homes and holiday letsSedgeford has a high proportion of second homes and holiday lets (Image: Chris Bishop)

Similar policies have been adopted by communities along the Norfolk coast, amid concerns the boom in second homes and holiday lets has driven house prices beyond the reach of locals and led to the "hollowing-out" of communities, which become ghost towns in the winter.

A Norfolk County Council spokesperson said: "The proposed Repton development at Sedgeford will bring the site back in to use, creating a high quality and balanced housing scheme that is sympathetic to the original buildings.

Villagers at Sedgeford have agreed a neighbourhood plan which states any new developments must be principal residencesVillagers at Sedgeford have agreed a neighbourhood plan which states any new developments must be principal residences (Image: Chris Bishop)

"The development would include an affordable housing element that is compliant with planning policy. 

"Any restrictive covenants on who can buy the homes would be for the planning authority to decide."