A second bid to knock down a pub to make way for houses on an estate in Sheringham has been recommended for approval by planning officers.The owners of the Sherry 'n' Ham pub, on Beech Avenue, say the business is no longer viable and is currently being subsidised to the tune of £3,000 a month.

A second bid to knock down a pub to make way for houses on an estate in Sheringham has been recommended for approval by planning officers.

The owners of the Sherry 'n' Ham pub, on Beech Avenue, say the business is no longer viable and is currently being subsidised to the tune of £3,000 a month.

Earlier this year they applied to North Norfolk District Council for permission to knock it down and build four three storey homes on the site.

The application was rejected by the council's planning committee amidst concerns that it was not in keeping with the local area.

A second application, for three two storey homes on the same site, will now go before NNDC's Development Control Committee at its meeting on Thursday.

So far the new application has received five letters of objection with concerns ranging from loss of privacy and being overlooked to loss of the public house and over-development of the site.

But a report to councillors recommends the plan be approved. It says that the council does not have a policy of seeking the retention of pubs in towns and the proposed development “would not significantly conflict” with planning policy.