Controversial plans to develop a major North Walsham eyesore site have been given the go-ahead.

Work to build 176 homes on the former HL Foods Factory site, off Norwich Road, could now begin in the middle of next year, according to a spokesman for delighted applicants Hopkins Homes.

The former canning factory closed in 2002 and has fallen into dereliction.

This morning's eight votes to six decision followed about an hour of robust discussion by members of North Norfolk District Council's (NNDC) development committee.

Opponents were angry that Hopkins Homes claimed the scheme would be unviable if they included any affordable homes, contributed money towards education or libraries, and they also said they could not afford to meet renewable energy requirements.

But supporters believed the plan would bring homes and new life to an area of long-standing blight in the town.

Permission will include an 'uplift' condition which would mean that any profit above 20pc which Hopkins Homes made on selling the homes would be split 50-50 with NNDC. The council would ring fence the money to be spent on affordable homes in North Walsham and its surrounding area.

The plan also includes a 50-space station car park, public open space and land allocated for employment uses.

? For more on the debate, buy tomorrow's EDP.