Councillors are being recommended to refuse plans for a major devbelopment in the centre of King's Lynn over air quality fears.

Developer Walker Commercial properties wants to build a 56-bed hotel, six town houses, 100 flats, shops and offices on the Pattrick & Thompsons timber yard on page Stair Lane, off the Tuesday Market Place.

The yard is no longer 'fit for purpose', says a report to councillors, and the business is being re-located to Wisbech.

The report adds the site is prone to flooding and would suffer 'rapid inundation' if defences were breached. While the Environment Agency has no objections to the scheme, it would require that no habitable accommodation be built at ground level.

The 1.3ha site is next to the Port of King's Lynn. West Norfolk council's environmental health officers are objecting to the development, arguing that poor air quality would 'significantly impact on the amenity' of residents.

'The development remains in an area of poor air quality and would result in an increase in the number of people expossed to poor air quality,' the report to councillors says. 'Consequently, the proposal is inappropriately sited.'

Associated British Ports has also objected, citing the lack of 'buffer zones' to protect residents from noise and fears over security. The report adds the development is also contrary to the council's planning policies, because it 'fails to providde a mechanism to secure the provision of affordable housing' and 'fails to provide a mechanism to secure contributions toiwards primary school places and additional library stock.'

Councillors are set to discusss the application on Monday, July 2.