Land earmarked for development on Roughton Road, Cromer. PHOTO: Cornerstone Planning Ltd

A planning application for 145 homes next to Cromer’s Amazona Zoo has been submitted to North Norfolk District Council (NNDC).

The land on Roughton Road, Cromer which is proposed for development. PHOTO: ANTONY KELLY

Cornerstone Planning, acting on behalf of Norfolk Homes, has lodged the scheme, for a 12.85-acre farmland site on the edge of Cromer.

The site, west of Roughton Road, has been earmarked in NNDC’s local development framework for up to 160 homes.

But the applicants are only planning to include 33 affordable homes in the scheme - 23pc of the total- saying NNDC’s expected 45pc figure would not be viable.

However, they are offering a range of community attractions including a pond, a near six-acre woodland at Brown’s Hill, two areas of public open space featuring play areas for children up to 12, a youth shelter, kick-about area, landscaping, tree and hedgerow planting and a wildflower/biodiversity area.

The land on Roughton Road, Cromer which is proposed for development. PHOTO: ANTONY KELLY

Bat roosting boxes would be put up on trees around the site, together with “bat tubes” on a number of houses.

Access to the development would be via a new access road to Roughton Road, and an existing road which is currently used as the zoo’s exit.

The developers would also improve foot and cycle paths between Roughton Road and Hall Road, and with the Weaver’s Way.

As a result of concerns raised by residents at a public exhibition on the scheme, Norfolk Homes has redesigned the layout so that bungalows, rather than two-storey homes, are at the northern end of the site, next to Brickfield Cottages.

Expected Section 106 agreements attached to the plan, aiming to offset its impact on the community, include a £174,660 payment to Norfolk County Council for places at Suffield Park Infant School.