‘Peace and quiet is our only solace’ - Hotel neighbours object to outdoor cabin proposals
Cliff Hotel, Gorleston. Picture: Jamie Honeywood - Credit: Archant
Neighbours of a seafront hotel have objected to a set of expansion plans they say will “affect their quality of life”.
The Cliff Hotel in Gorleston submitted plans to Great Yarmouth Borough Council on July 3 to build seven garden cabins “overlooking the sea”.
According to the application, some of these will be “interconnected for families” - and will take advantage of “unused grass/land at the rear of the hotel”.
The plans also outline that two full-time and two part-time employees would be created in the process.
In the hotel’s design and access statement, it says the cabins would “not have a detrimental impact” on nearby homes.
It said: “Adjacent properties are a fair distance away from the proposals, therefore would not have a detrimental impact on them.
“The work will be built by local tradesmen, where possible via locally sourced materials which will be highly insulated to conserve energy.”
The hotel refused to comment on the plans, but residents of Grenfell Court, a retirement complex run by Cotman Housing Association next to the hotel, and whose properties will be overlooking the cabins, say the proposal will spoil their view, generate noise pollution and disrupt their “quiet and peaceful retirement”.
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Odette Martin, 58, said all 22 residents of Grenfell Court strongly object to the development and have signed a letter which was hand-delivered to the council’s planning department.
“The estate where we live is a housing association only open to people over 55,” she said.
“There are a lot of elderly and disabled residents, and for them the peace, quiet and cliffside view is their only solace.
“These proposed cabins may be looking directly into some of our windows, and that would massively affect residents’ privacy.
“Some people here are wheelchair bound. Imagine being confronted by noise and strangers constantly by seven noisy holiday cabins right below you? It’s not fair.”
Ms Martin, who lives with her 71-year-old husband, is originally from London, but moved to Gorleston as part of Boris Johnson’s ‘Seaside and Country homes’ scheme when he was mayor. This encouraged older people to retire outside of London as a way of freeing up housing space in the capital.
She said: “We’ve worked hard to retire here and we want our peace respected.”
A decision will be made on the outcome of the application by August 28.