Bid for five homes in Wortwell, Norfolk has been refused

Teresa Riches applied to South Norfolk Council to build the properties west of Low Road in Wortwell, a village between Harleston and Bungay.

The site is on grassland behind The Wortwell Bell, which has recently gone back on the market. 

But the proposal has been rejected for several reasons.

It was refused as the development was deemed to have “a detrimental impact” on the listed buildings nearby, including the Bell, a grade-II listed building to the north of the site.

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The site is west to Low Road in Wortwell (Image: Google Maps) READ MORE: Plans for five new homes in Wortwell still undecided

It was also said in the decision notice that the proposal would represent “an unacceptable intrusion” in the countryside and posed “eroding” the gap between the separate parts of the village.

Noise impact to and from The Wortwell Bell was mentioned, alongside the ecological impact of the site. 

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Paul Holland, former landlord of The Wortwell Bell, in front of the property earlier this year (Image: Bruno Brown) READ MORE: The Wortwell Bell near Harleston is back on the market

The bid received numerous objections from members of the public, as they raised concerns over the traffic, ecological impacts, and the impact on the setting of listed buildings.

One comment said the proposed development was a "clear example of urban sprawl".

Another said it would have been "devastating for this historical village".

There was one comment supporting the application that said: "We should be encouraging small developments."

They also supported the application to "retain services and businesses". 

In 2018, there was another application on the site for four self-build dwellings by the same applicant which was refused for similar concerns.

When the application was submitted last October, The Wortwell Bell was closed after the landlord retired the month before. 

But, it reopened under Paul Holland in March before he was evicted for breaching Stonegate policy. 

Now, the 18th century pub is closed and on the market for potential publicans to take over.