Plan to demolish vets and replace with flats is turned down
An application to demolish the Summerhill vets in Fakenham and replace it with flats has been refused - Credit: Aaron McMillan
A proposal which would have seen a Fakenham vets knocked down and replaced with a block of flats has been refused.
The application had been lodged by J Feneley and L Rivett with a view to demolishing Summerhill Veterinary Centre, located in Queen's Road.
In its place, there would have been a two-storey and part single-storey building, comprising seven flats with associated driveways, parking spaces, turning area, garages and amenity space.
North Norfolk District Council has turned down plans to demolish Summerhill vets in Fakenham - Credit: Aaron McMillan
But the scheme was turned down by North Norfolk District Council's planning department on the basis of there being insufficient outdoor space.
It was concluded to be "overdevelopment" and would, therefore, fail to fit in with its surroundings.
In his decision notice, NNDC head of planning Phillip Rowson said: "The proposed development for seven units represents an unacceptable form of development.
"Failure to demonstrate adequate outdoor amenity provision afforded for the proposed units would constitute overdevelopment and intensification of use of the site.
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"This would fail to reflect the form and character of the surrounding area."
Summerhill vets, in Fakenham, would have been replaced by a block of seven flats - Credit: Aaron McMillan
Documents submitted to NNDC said the vets had outgrown the building and would be moving to a larger, purpose-built facility in the Fakenham area.
Summerhill has been contacted but declined to comment on its future plans.
Giving his decision, Mr Rowson highlighted the scale of the potential development, as well as its orientation and close proximity to a shared boundary to the north, as being problematic.
He said the block of flats would be "significantly detrimental" to the residential amenities of the occupants of the neighbouring properties, as it would "dominate" the view from their gardens.
The block of flats would have consisted of half a dozen two-bedroom flats and a single one-bedroom home, with a total of 15 parking spaces.
But the project received a number of objections from residents living nearby.
Fakenham Town Council welcomed the demolition of a "very inadequate" building, but objected on the grounds of overdevelopment.
The original planning application said several attempts have already been made by the vets to expand the building, all of which were rejected.
