Hope for Happisburgh as schemes face next hurdle

Two projects crucial to the revitalisation of erosion-blighted Happisburgh will take another step nearer realisation tomorrow.

Schemes to relocate the coastal village's Beach Road car park and to replace nine cliff-edge homes, soon to be demolished, are due to come before North Norfolk District Council's cabinet tomorrow morning.

Councillors are being recommended to support the transfer of ownership and management of the car park, and new public toilets which will be built in it, to Happisburgh Parish Council.

The parish council supports the move, which would see it benefit from car-park income. The project, which would include a new beach access ramp to replace one destroyed by coastal erosion, is expected to get planning approval early next month and should be built in time for the summer season.

The cabinet is also recommended to back the principle of replacing the Beach Road homes - bought for demolition by NNDC using government Pathfinder cash, aimed at helping coastal communities manage erosion - and to give officers authority to agree terms on a suitable village site or sites for the replacements which would be built on about 0.8 of an acre of farmland.

The council would like to consult on draft proposals for the scheme in May and hopes to gain outline planning permission for it in July or August.