A former poultry factory in a north Norfolk village looks set to be redeveloped as housing.The Cherryridge business at Northrepps near Cromer closed three days before Christmas in 2006 with the loss of 75 jobs.

A former poultry factory in a north Norfolk village looks set to be redeveloped as housing.

The Cherryridge business at Northrepps near Cromer closed three days before Christmas in 2006 with the loss of 75 jobs.

Now planners face a dilemma whether to insist on it staying as a commercial site or allowing it to be used for homes.

The parish council admits there is a “stark choice between a large housing development and a large housing site” says a report by planning officials.

Villagers would welcome a drop in lorry traffic, but were concerned about the extra car traffic, and burden on local services, which would be caused by housing, North Norfolk District Council's east area development committee will be told on Thursday .

Cherryridge originally applied for 38 homes on the 1.5ha site, which would be cleared apart from a flint faced building on the front which would be turned into a shop - but had since dropped the housing numbers.

Refusal is being recommended by highways officials saying the scheme was not sustainable because of the lack of public transport links and narrow local lanes which would need to cope with up to 400 extra car movements.

But councillors will be told housing was supported the council's own officials who said attempts to sell the site for industry had failed and there was high demand for housing - with 445 people on the waiting list wanting to live in the village.

It would also be a more compatible neighbour for the surrounding housing which is in a conservation area and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

No firm recommendation will be made until the meeting, but an appraisal says housing was “on balance” and acceptable solution. Councillors will be updated on talks currently under way to pin down the number of homes on the site.