The owners of a guest house that was shut down for being used as an unlicensed HMO have lost their bid to turn the property into flats.
CM Agriculture lodged an application with the borough council to change the Shemara Guest House in Wellesley Road, Great Yarmouth, into four self-contained one-bed flats.
The move has led to objections from neighbours, who said when the house was being run as an unlicensed HMO, it was "the very worst time of our lives."
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The property is currently vacant and in a "poor condition" according to Great Yarmouth Borough Council officers.
But between September 2021 and September 2022, Shemara Guest House was used unlawfully to provide accommodation to agricultural workers.
According to the neighbour, during this time they were subjected to abusive behaviour and excessive noise which led to GYBC issuing dozens of noise abatement notices and Norfolk Police were also frequently called to the property.
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It was later shut down after it was brought to the attention of the council's environmental health team.
CM Agriculture, who purchased the site in 2021 at auction, has said the guest house was intended to provide temporary accommodation for its workers and that it agreed to close it to avoid "confrontation" with the council.
It says the move to turn it into flats is due to the guest house being unviable as a business and argued several other B&Bs in the area have made similar decisions.
In a letter to the council, the neighbour said they feared the problems could return if permission is granted and that it could have a negative impact on their lives.
After reviewing the application planning officers decided to block the bid due to the flats being too cramped, worrying it would create an "oppressive living environment".
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