County Hall has revived major plans to build hundreds of houses and a mixed-use development including shops on the coast.

Repton Homes, the development company wholly owned by Norfolk County Council, has submitted papers in relation to a proposal to build 550 houses and a small-scale retail development on land south of Links Road and east of Lowestoft Road in Gorleston.

The same site previously saw plans to build 240 houses and a Lidl supermarket - but they were withdrawn in July following concerns about a proposed toucan roundabout.

The new plans include 112 individual retirement homes, community facilities and services, commercial and business units, local community and learning, as well as landscaping, highway works and associated infrastructure.

The A47 roundabout at Links Road in Gorleston.The A47 roundabout at Links Road in Gorleston. (Image: Google Maps) READ MORE: Family-run restaurant that faced 'relentless battle' loses bid for housing

The site is 25 hectares of prominently agricultural land owned by the county council and bordered on one side by the busy A47.

As of Wednesday, October 2, the latest plans are facing ten objections from neighbours with concerns about the loss of green space, pressure on services and the impact on traffic.

One said: "The thought of the proposed quantity of buildings on that site is terrifying on several levels."

Another resident said: "Another 550 homes will cause problems with access to GP surgery, dental care, schools."

According to one neighbour, "just building more homes for young people who can't afford them anyway is pointless".

Another said that Links Road was "too narrow" and the increased traffic would "cause multiple accidents on what is already a dangerous piece of road". 

One resident is supporting the plans.

At this stage, Repton Homes is asking planners at Great Yarmouth Borough Council whether an environmental impact assessment (EIA) is required for the proposals.

A decision on that part of the process is expected by October 10.

'Traffic chaos'

The site lies on top of a busy roundabout at Beacon Park close to the James Paget University Hospital.

In 2021, after the original application was submitted, it faced strong opposition from both residents and a senior planning officer, with one of the main concerns being "traffic chaos".

National Highways recommended the borough council refuse planning permission for the scheme.

They said that a proposed toucan crossing on Links Road appeared to be too close to the nearby A47 roundabout and could lead to vehicles queueing back to the junction.

Additionally, in June this year, a retail impact assessment carried out on behalf of the borough council said that granting planning permission for the site could have a material impact on the chances of securing a grocery retail operator for a development at Beacon Park.

The county council withdrew their application on July 5.

What is an EIA?

An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a process that evaluates the potential environmental effects of a proposed development or project.

EIAs ensure that decision makers consider the environmental impact of a project at the earliest possible stage.