One bungalow could be knocked down and replaced with eight houses

Eight new houses could be built on the plot of one bungalow, after councillors agreed in principle to plans.

Outline planning permission was granted to demolish one bungalow, called Peacehaven, on Yarmouth Road, Hemsby.

At Tuesday’s meeting of the borough council’s Development Control Committee councillors voted to approve the preliminary plans.

The site is largely overgrown and the rear garden backs on to Old Thatch Close and Easterley Way.

In a report to the committee, in which the council’s planning officers recommended approval, it was stated that the site was generally at a scale and size acceptable in a village such as Hemsby.

It was recommended that the development should be limited to single storey buildings to fit in with the character of the area.

Hemsby parish council objected to the plans on the grounds of over-development and concerns about visibility exiting the land.

Letters of objection were received from nine neighbours of the proposed development with worries expressed over disturbance during construction, wildlife preservation, pressures on local services and drainage from the site.

Cllr Tom Andrews said that drainage issues would have to be overcome before full planning permission was granted.

In 1998, 1999 and 2000 plans to develop the site by building more houses on it were refused.

A detailed application will now have to be submitted to the committee for approval before any building work can take place.