A Norfolk poultry firm has made a last-minute appeal against an order for a rendering plant it built in mid-Norfolk to be demolished. Norfolk County Council had ruled before Christmas that buildings Banham Compost had built at Clay Hall, Great Witchingham, should be taken down.

A Norfolk poultry firm has made a last-minute appeal against an order for a rendering plant it built in mid-Norfolk to be demolished.

Norfolk County Council had ruled before Christmas that buildings Banham Compost had built at Clay Hall, Great Witchingham, should be taken down.

But now Banham has lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate just before the deadline on Monday.

It means that any enforcement action will now have to be put on hold until inspectors rule whether or not Banham should have to demolish its buildings.

Overturning the appeal could pave the way for retrospective planning permission for the site.

The site, which the county council says contravenes a planning permission, has been and is still subject to a number of other appeals.

Planners at Norfolk County Council said they hoped that the latest appeal would be tied up into a public inquiry with another outstanding appeal lodged by Banham against the non-determination of a planning application for two-buildings on the site - not what is currently there.

John Martin, who has campaigned against the rendering plant, said: 'We welcome the prospect of a public inquiry, which will provide finality, and we look forward to the day when a start is made on the demolition of this unauthorised plant.'