RESIDENTS living in Hemsby have hit out at plans to build five bungalows within their community.

People living at The Glebe, off Beach Road in Hemsby have been notified about a planning application to build five bungalows on the site.

Geoffrey Watling (Norwich) Ltd has put in a planning application to build five bungalows which would be peppered around the area on three sites.

Glennis Townsend, who has lived at The Glebe for 10 years, said: 'I'm worried that the increased number of cars will block the entrance to people's driveways. When I first moved here 10 years ago the ground rent was �435 a year and now it's �1,350. '

Residents own their homes and lease the land around it on a one-year rolling contract.

They currently pay up to �1,600 ground rent a year on their properties, depending on the size of the plot, with an extra �500 for static or touring caravans which are parked on the site. Home owners would see their ground rent reduced if developers use part of it to build on.

John Weston, associate partner at Brown and Co, the managing agents for the application, said: 'We have consulted the parties who are affected. We have built seven new homes on The Glebe in the past four or five years. This is the first time we have applied to build these five bungalows, it is not a repeat application.'

Mr Weston said a three-bedroom bungalow was built on the site last year which was bought within a week of completion.

'The land around the buildings is owned by Geoffrey Watling Ltd. It was once owned by the church,' he added.

A resident who faces losing part of his front garden to the developers said: 'I have been here for 17 years and I have paid rent all the time I have been here. I have a static caravan and if the proposals are successful then it would have to go. The developers will pay for it to be moved but there's nowhere for it to go. No-one lives in our caravan but our family come and stay during the summer for a few weeks.'

Another resident who did not want to be named said: 'I think if the new buildings were to go ahead it would change the character of the place. They will change it to look like a council estate.'

They added: 'In my opinion they should never even think about putting the bungalows here. They will take an alleyway out. I am worried about how it is going to affect the way we live our lives. At any point they could take the land away.'

Residents also raised their concerns about access for emergency vehicles if the new homes were permitted.

'It's not an ideal place to put a bungalow. There's not room for five bungalows on The Glebe - they are taking people's ground away. I think we are all a bit tied because we're on a yearly lease.'

The planning application was discussed at Hemsby parish council meeting on Monday, and there were no objections.