Plans to build houses on a Sheringham playing field has sparked locals' anger.
Almost four acres of Norfolk County Council-owned land off Nelson Road in Sheringham has been earmarked for development – with plans on the table to build a number of social homes on the site.
The project, which is being discussed by the council and developer Broadland Housing Association, is in its early stages, but aims to provide affordable homes to rent to ease north Norfolk’s housing crisis.
However, the plans have come under fire from locals – with signs being put up in Sheringham calling to ‘save the playing field’.
A meeting to discuss the plans is set to take place tonight (August 8) at the Nelson Road site, at 7pm.
Councillor Liz Withington, portfolio holder for community, leisure and outreach at North Norfolk District Council (NNDC), who represents Sheringham North, said the town needs more affordable homes.
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"We are currently in a housing crisis in North Norfolk with many local people unable to afford either to rent or buy a home locally,” Miss Withington.
“It is important that we look to create affordable housing where possible. Exceptions schemes such as this are one way that land can be brought forward at a cost which makes truly affordable housing viable.
“It does always have to be a balance to ensure that development brings forward what is both needed and acceptable to the community."
The county council originally bought the land intending to build a school there.
But that school was never built and the land has been leased to NNDC since 2006.
County Hall reviewed the land earlier this year and declared it 'surplus to requirement'.
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North Norfolk's housing crisis has seen a rise in house prices, with seemingly fewer homes available to locals.
This is often attributed to the number of second homes and holiday lets in north Norfolk - which is more than 40pc of all properties in some areas - but an NNDC report last year found that retirees moving to the area were the main driver of rising house prices.
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