A bid to construct 18 homes in a village has been thrown out as they would lead to an urbanisation of the area, councillors have ruled.

The outline planning application to build the single storey buildings off Lowestoft Road in Hopton has been rejected by Great Yarmouth Borough Council’s development control committee.

The committee rejected the bid by the trustees of the Edna May Rackham Trust due to concerns that had been raised by planning officers over their impact on the area.

It was recommended for refusal as the site, given its height above the landscape, would cause an urban intrusion which would have a significant adverse impact on the character of the area.

The bid was also said to cause an “unacceptable coalescence” between Hopton and Gorleston, which is contrary to the core planning strategy.

The site is believed to be linked to a Bronze Age round barrow.