Concerns over plans for 16 new homes in Knapton

Victory Housing Trust has applied to North Norfolk District Council to build the homes in a field off School Lane in Knapton, near North Walsham - a 1.7 acre site.

The new estate would include a mix of detached and semi-detached 'affordable' homes clustered around a forked cul-de-sac. The homes would be let by the housing trust to people eligible for social rented housing and shared ownership.

There are now 10 parking paces on the site used for the village hall, which would be kept, and another 35 spaces would be built.

But not everyone is happy with the plans, and there have been some objections over the scale of the development and the lack of facilities in the village.

An overhead plan of the proposed development in Knapton. Image: Design and Access Statement by Richard Pike Associates (Image: Archant)

Permission to build eight homes on the site was granted in February 2014, and Victory hosted a consultation session on the expanded plans at the village hall in October last year.

Some residents reacted with 'surprise, outrage and dismay' at seeing the proposal for 16 dwellings, when permission for just eight had been granted.

Other feedback, recorded in the scheme's design and access statement, included: 'Many people agreed there was a need for more affordable housing, and they knew that this land was earmarked for housing', 'The junction of Hall Lane/The Street and Mundesley Road is already dangerous, this would create more traffic,' and 'The trees on the field were planted in memory of some residents who are no longer around, their families would be upset if we remove them.'

The new homes would bring the village population up to more 60, and some residents said that would be wrong because of the lack of infrastructure in the area, while others thought more residents could increase the parish precept and fund more services.

The statement read: 'Whilst we have been unable to address every concern we have done our utmost to keep at the forefront of our design the key issues raised throughout our engagement with the community.'

The new estate would include four one-bedroom, seven two-bedroom and five three-bedroom homes.

John Archibald, Victory's chief executive, said: 'When we put forward a proposal to build new affordable homes, we try to balance various local needs– and high on our list of priorities is the pressing need for affordable homes for local people so that they can live and work in their own communities.

'The large number of people in housing need in north Norfolk, coupled with the district's unenviable position of having the least affordable homes relative to average income anywhere in Norfolk, demonstrates that our expanded programme of building new affordable homes is much needed.

'We are bound by – and fully respect – the planning process, and it will be for North Norfolk District Council to make the final decision.'

The plans can be viewed online at idoxpa.north-norfolk.gov.uk/online-applications, search for PF/17/1675