Decision due today on plans for homes overlooking Diss Mere

A decision is expected today on plans for a housing development overlooking Diss Mere.

South Norfolk Councils will decide on the future of the development after council officers recommended approval, despite a number of protests.

The original plans were strongly opposed, but the developer behind the scheme changed the plans from flats to three homes in the hope of winning favour.

Diss Town Council and the Heritage Triangle Trust opposed the first proposals, which were described by one objector as a “monolithic lump” and by another as “a Swiss Family Robinson-style ski lodge”.

Other objectors to plans for the land sloping down to the Mere behind 22A St Nicholas’ Street said the development was out of character with its locality, overlooked neighbouring properties and would have an adverse effect on the community garden behind the town council offices and the Mere boardwalk.

South Norfolk Council planning officers also raised concerns at first that the development was too large and would harm the views across the Mere and the setting for a number of listed buildings.

The amended plans are being recommended for approval ahead of a meeting of South Norfolk Council’s development management committee this morning.

The report says that the seven objections lodged against the amended plans argued that the scheme had not addressed initial concerns.

Although the Heritage Triangle Trust said it was not against the principle of developing the site, it argued for two houses instead of three, sited further away from the boundary with the community garden.

“A development that enhances the wildlife garden would be welcomed, indeed the trust would welcome working with the developer on the lower part of the plot to enhance its value to both wildlife and the Diss community,” the trust said.

The planning officer’s report says the original proposals had evolved, and that the bulk and footprint of the building had been reduced and, after revisions to the roof, windows and facing materials, the scheme was sympathetic to the conservation area.