Searles of Hunstanton plans for more holiday lodges

Searles of Hunstanton is seeking lawful development approval for 23 extra lodges on its site on the southern outskirts of Hunstanton.

Its agent says planning permission was agreed in 2006 to extend its golf course and also add timber-clad holiday lodges on land west of Hunstanton Road, at Heacham.

More than 100 lodges were added to the site, which became known as Redgate Park.

But the original permission did not set a limit on the number of lodges which could be built.

Looking towards the site from across the fields (Image: Chris Bishop)

A planning statement says: "It is apparent that the development description and planning conditions – the key statutory, binding aspects of a decision notice – do not state or restrict the number of units to be stationed or their layout."

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Now the firm has applied for confirmation that further lodges would be lawful before going ahead.

It comes after Searles applied to build an office block and showroom at the main entrance to its site off South Beach Road, near the Tesco supermarket.

The site of the proposed new office block and showroom at Searles (Image: Chris Bishop)

It said the scheme, which involves demolishing a bungalow which currently stands on part of the site, would "help to increase the resort’s contribution to the local economy".

Searles has more than 650 static caravans, along with a golf course, fishing lake, restaurants, bars and swimming pools.

It can trace its history back to 1934, when the family bought a field to keep the donkeys they hired out for rides on the nearby beach and began selling caravan pitches in exchange for bags of potatoes.

A decision on both proposals is expected from West Norfolk Council later this year.