Yarmouth Art College plans

Plans passed for Great Yarmouth's landmark Art College were this week described as a “sustainable solution” that would compliment regeneration efforts.

The Grade II listed building on Trafalgar Road is set to be transformed into 18 affordable one and two-bedroom flats.

The scheme was considered by the borough council's development control committee on Tuesday.

Speaking on behalf of applicants Flagship Housing, Paul Pitchers from Wellington Construction, said he was aware of the sensitivity that had surrounded previous applications for the site and that a great deal of thought had been put into the scheme to mitigate fears.

He said the scheme presented a “sustainable solution” for the building and would compliment the regeneration work already completed at St George's Park and the future work around St George's Theatre on King Street.

He also pointed to other developments that Wellington Construction and Flagship had completed in the town including the key worker flats next to the old veterinary surgery near Haven Bridge and Boultons on North Quay.

Peter Fitzgerald, from Great Yarmouth Residents' Association, addressed the committee on behalf of 22 residents who had signed a petition opposing plans. He said the area would benefit more from two and three-bedroom units for families.

Moving to approve plans Labour leader Mick Castle said: “I think this has gone on for long enough. There has been a sequence of applications and it seems to me with the plans we have, the developers have addressed the reasons why previous applications were turned down by this committee.

“The fact is there is no alternative use for this building, there hasn't been in the boom years and I think we know enough about these developers from other projects in the town to know they will do a good job.”

The plans were approved five votes to three and building work is expected to begin in the autumn.