Public inquiry into refusal of large Holt housing development

A public inquiry into the refusal of a large housing development is due to start this month.

The appeal will be over the first rejection of up to 170 homes south of Lodge Close in Holt, next to Holt Country Park, by the North Norfolk District Council development committee.

It is happening at the district council offices on Holt Road, Cromer, on Tuesday July 28 from 10am and due to last for four days. The appeal will be led by the Planning Inspectorate.

District councillors threw out the application by Cheshire-based Gladman Developments in October last year.

They rejected it a second time after it was resubmitted by Gladman the following February.

Both applications were similar and rejected because the site was outside the development boundary for Holt; would encroach into an area of open countryside; and would create over-capacity issues at Holt Primary School which cannot expand on its current site.

According to Gladman, the site would have been appropriate for its setting; would be visually attractive; include public open spaces; respect the country park and Glaven Valley Conservation Area; and create new pedestrian links into the town and park.

Some of homes would be affordable and the developer would provide community benefits through section 106 cash.