The planning application to erect residential accommodation to the rear of the above property was approved by the South Norfolk District Council Planning Committee today Wednesday 16th December 2020.

Parish Council Chairman Fred Hartwell spoke at the virtual meeting on behalf of the parish council and recommended refusal; on the grounds of the parking problems that may well arise, and because the plan represented a change of use of the building.

However, as recommended by the planning officer, the committee voted unanimously in favour of approval. The principle reason was that as the building is already classed as a religious building it is already permitted to resume religious services, even if parking congestion occurs as a result in narrow Sun Road.

In truth this outcome was expected because planning departments have to follow planning regulations in arriving at decisions.

Now approval has been given everybody hopes that once the chapel is operational again the worst fears about parking won’t be realised. You can be sure the parish council will try and help villagers should problems indeed occur in practice.

The district council’s planning website will shortly officially publish the decision and the attached conditions (ref. 2020/1781). The minutes of the meeting will be published later as well. It is likely you will also to be able to watch a recording of the meeting as well, indeed you may well have watched it live as it was shown on a you tube channel.

Finally, thankyou to all villagers who responded to the planning consultation. Although you will be disappointed by the outcome it is important for the future of local democracy that there is grass roots involvement in the decision making process.