Developer finally gets the go ahead to create a luxury house in Castle Acre - but has to forgo a swimming pool
A Norfolk developer is celebrating a mini victory over local planners after finally being given the go-ahead to create a dream home from a run-down bungalow in Castle Acre, near Swaffham.
Matthew Green, of Greens Developments, has battled for more than three years to gain planning permission to transform a 1970s bungalow in a picturesque setting on the edge of Castle Acre.
His original plans for the house called Ran Revir, on Bailey Street were rejected by King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council and despite fighting a two year appeal against the refusal, an independent adjudicator rejected his case last year.
The process not only dashed Mr Green's hopes and dreams but also left him nearly £10,000 out of pocket, having spent £7,000 on the appeal process alone. However, rather than be defeated, he resubmitted some new plans for the property which have now, incredibly, been given the go ahead.
It is a compromise, however because the original plans were for a fabulous eco-friendly, two storey house with a pool but the planners deemed it too out of character compared with other properties in the vicinity. The new plans see the original building extended with a flat roof, rather than a first floor. It will be painted in French grey and not have a swimming pool but instead has a cart shed garage. The plans double the size of the existing bungalow which will be fitted with a luxury Corian kitchen with four bedrooms.
'It's a really good end to a very difficult chapter,' said Mr Green. 'I don't really understand the planners because I think my original house using flint and clay pantiles would have been more in keeping with Castle Acre but I am really pleased and the build will be cheaper than the original project. It's not completely the dream house I wanted to build but I'm going to do everything as if I was going to live in it myself.'
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