Hotel plan delay
Legal wrangles look set to further delay a long-running bid to turn a disused glassmaking factory into a multi-million luxury hotel complex.A scheme by developers Avada Country Homes for a 30-bedroom hotel and 23 holiday cottages in the centre of Langham has been given delegated approval by councillors at North Norfolk District Council.
Legal wrangles look set to further delay a long-running bid to turn a disused glassmaking factory into a multi-million luxury hotel complex.
A scheme by developers Avada Country Homes for a 30-bedroom hotel and 23 holiday cottages in the centre of Langham has been given delegated approval by councillors at North Norfolk District Council.
But the decision now faces the threat of being called in for judicial review after an 11th hour legal challenge by a holiday home owner.
The plan was originally given delegated approval last August but was forced back before the west development control committee on Thursday because of questions raised by lawyers acting for London-based Christopher Smith, who has a second home opposite the proposed site.
You may also want to watch:
Already Ian Johnston, the man behind the scheme, says he has been forced to lay off construction workers because of the late intervention and the delays are preventing him bringing up to 60 full-time jobs to the village.
At the meeting Mr Smith said he did not believe North Norfolk District Council planning authority had fully examined all the issues before granting delegated approval in August.
Most Read
- 1 Town council to discuss creating 160-acre country park
- 2 'It needs new blood': Chippie with arcade inside goes up for sale
- 3 Jailed in Norfolk last week: Drug dealer, £1.3m fraudster and paedophile
- 4 Green light for new play area after £60,000 grant
- 5 Part of A47 closed after concerns for woman’s welfare
- 6 Travellers camped at garden centre car park
- 7 Dereham councillor protests over toilet demolition
- 8 Dereham soccer academy win national championship
- 9 Critics unhappy at NDR Western Link answers - but case to be lodged
- 10 Campaign group slams smoking ban at council headquarters
But Mr Johnston accused Mr Smith of failing to accept the democratic process. He said the application was now one of the most scrutinised in recent times and accused objectors of misrepresenting the facts.
Senior planning officer Geoff Lyon told the meeting that legal advice to the council remained that the approval should be granted.
Once permission for the development is issued Mr Smith will have six weeks in which to launch legal proceedings.
