Filby planning application faces objections over fate of field

In November last year, Great Yarmouth Borough Council refused a bid by Ben Hunt to change the use of land, off Ormesby Lane in Filby, from agricultural to residential.

Planners said the change of use would not reflect or have regard to the local area including the surrounding built environment, character of the area or landscape.

The application had faced 16 objections from Filby Parish Council and from neighbours who raised concerns over the loss of agricultural land.

Ormesby Lane in Filby, where residents are objecting to plans to change the use fo a field from agricultural to residential. (Image: Google)

READ MORE: Bid for 33 Ormesby homes approved by Great Yarmouth council

One resident said the village was already "over extended".

Others mentioned the drains and sewers which they said "can't cope with the extra houses".

One neighbour said: "The sewage system into which any development would feed is already struggling to meet the current demands placed upon it, with some existing properties already having non return valves fitted to prevent sewer backing up.

"New housing would only exacerbate this already unhealthy situation," they added.

There were also concerns the application would "further reduce the supply of much needed grade 1 agricultural land within the parish".

Mr Hunt has appealed the case to the planning inspectorate.

In the wake of the appeal, Filby Parish Council said they are continuing to object to the application and that the site should be protected as agricultural land.

It is not the first time the area has been the centre of a planning row. 

In 2020, the council refused an application to build 14 houses on land to the east of the site.

One year later, they rejected a bid to build two detached houses on neighbouring land, to the north of Philmar Lodge.