Officials oppose Marshland St James homes bid backed by council leader

Plans to build new housing round the site of a former village pub will go before West Norfolk councillors next week.

Borough council officials say the scheme for land off School Road in Marshland St James should be turned down at a planning meeting next week.

But West Norfolk Council leader Brian Long has given his backing to the proposal, despite parish council opposition.

A report, published ahead of next Monday's planning committee meeting, said he had asked for the application and another one in the village to go before the committee.

He added: "There has been a large amount of development within the village of late and this seems to me an opportunity to complete this part of the village, delivering much sought after new homes.”

He also pointed out that the old Marshland Arms pub, which the plan for four homes would link to, is already a private home.

But parish councillors in the village, together with the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England, have opposed the plan, arguing the site is outside its development boundary.

And planners said the scheme is considered to be unsustainable as there is already adequate housing land available.