Plans to redevelop the former Pontins Holiday Centre at Hemsby with a 60 bed care home and up to 191 houses have been withdrawn.

The application was due to be heard at a meeting of Great Yarmouth Borough Council's development control committee on Tuesday, January 17.

The council received 340 responses from local people of which 338 are opposed to the proposal with two in favour of the development. The plans were earmarked for refusal.

Neighbours had voiced their concerns about demands on local facilities, current policies in the Local Plan; loss of holiday accommodation and impact on local facilities and infrastructure and insufficient demand for further housing.

The site has been vacant since the centre closed in 2008 and despite 24-hour security it has suffered from burglaries and criminal damage, a planning report stated.

Applicant Northern Trust Company Ltd submitted plans to Great Yarmouth Borough Council to redevelop the site with a 60-bed care home and up to 191 houses and associated open space and infrastructure.

The 8.9 hectare site is in the centre of the built up area of Hemsby. The main site access is off Beach Road.

The accommodation on the site currently comprises extensive ranges of flat roofed two storey chalet blocks, together with a large facilities building and other ancillary buildings. Overall accommodation at maximum capacity was around 2,440 people.

The planning report said: 'The application has been submitted because the applicant considers other sites in the area can accommodate tourist demand and the competitive market together with adverse trends in the UK and local holiday market and the unfavourable site conditions in terms of site layout and general surroundings make the site unviable for large companies to maintain its former use. Smaller companies will be unable to raise the necessary finance.'