Third time lucky? Another bid made to build four homes on country lane
Houghton Lane in North Pickenham. The proposed homes would be built in the gap between the existing houses on the left side of the road. Picture: GOOGLE STREETVIEW - Credit: Archant
A third attempt is being made to get approval for four homes on a stretch of country road following two refusals.
P Stockdale wants the go-ahead to construct four 'self-build, low impact, energy efficient dwellings and associated works' on land off Houghton Lane in North Pickenham, south-east of Swaffham.
Breckland Council refused permission for new homes at the site in May 2017, and also rejected a further application in September that same year.
The council said at the time the homes - which would fill in a strip of paddock between existing houses, would: 'introduce new development in an unsustainable location' and would encroach on the rural landscape.
But the new application argues the homes should be approved because the council lacks a five-year housing supply, the site was already in a cluster of houses with a bus link to Swaffham.
A plan showing the proposed homes in Houghton Lane, North Pickenham. Picture: PLANNING DOCUMENTS - Credit: Archant
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The application said: 'The proposal represents a sustainable form of development in accordance with both national and local policy.'
North Pickenham Parish Council has not objected to the plans, which include two three and two four-bedroom homes.
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But Breckland has received objections from several nearby residents, including one, who said: 'Houghton Lane is narrow and is already heavily used by residents and heavy farm machinery, and it seems that whenever there are road closures around the village we become a rat run.
'The drainage system in the lane floods on a regular basis whenever there is heavy rainfall - having yet more run-off would be very worrying.'
Another objector said: 'There is hardly any green land left in the village. There is no school, we always have been plagued by electric problems, gas problems, flooding.'
And another said: 'The addition of new housing would put extra pressure on the poor access over Houghton Lane bridge, increasing the number of vehicle journey proportionally high.'
But another submission, which was in favour of the plans, said: 'Looks good to me, and seems a sensible use of land with good frontage onto a reasonably wide lane and between other relatively modern houses.'
According to www.zoopla.co.uk, the average house price in Houghton Lane is £235,938.
-What do you think? Email your views to dtf.letters@archant.co.uk
