The cottage has fallen into disrepair after years of neglect. Picture: North Norfolk District council
Neighbours in a quiet English town are up in arms over plans to turn an old cottage into a “medieval fortress” complete with its own turret.
The controversial development, in the tiny Norfolk hamlet of Brinton, has sparked outrage among neighbours and the parish council, The Sun reports.
Critics claim that it looks more like a medieval fortress than a family house.
Disgruntled locals have tried unsuccessfully to block the scheme, warning it would stick out like a sore thumb.
But despite the protests, North Norfolk District Council has now given the green light.
Under the plans, a ruined cottage on a plot of land off Sharrington Road – will be demolished to make way for a three-bedroom replacement property.
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The developers will first need to clear years of overgrowth.
Designs submitted to the council show the proposed turret. Picture: North Norfolk District council
Years’ worth of weeds have grown around the property during a long period of neglect.
The most eye-catching feature put forward by the plans is a towering three-bedroom “flint stair turret”.
But annoyed locals say it resembles castle ramparts and has transformed a quiet rural plot into something straight out of the Middle Ages.
Speaking at a recent council meeting, neighbour Keith Parks blasted the design, branding it a “medieval fortress” and urging planners to throw it out.
The cottage has fallen into disrepair after years of neglect. Picture: North Norfolk District council
Brinton and Sharrington Parish Council also objected, arguing the scale and appearance of the new build was “alien” and completely out of keeping with nearby Brook House, a Grade II listed property.
Another major worry for residents in the area was flooding.
Local councillor and cabinet member for planning Andrew Brown warned that Brinton sits at the lowest point of the village.
The location raised fears that changes to the land could leave neighbours at risk of being flooded out.
Residents also raised concerns about the loss of mature trees on the site, including a mulberry and a walnut tree, which they fear will further change the character of the area.
The architect behind the development has firmly defended his design. Picture: North Norfolk District council
The council has given its approval with a series of conditions. Picture: North Norfolk District council
However, architect Anthony Hudson hit back at the criticism, insisting the design reflects “local traditions of building form and materials”.
He said the owners were determined to improve what he described as a neglected and messy plot,
And Mr Hudson said added that they had already spent heavily clearing the northern part of the site of “ugly and dilapidated” buildings.
“They now want to sort out this ruin,” he told councillors.
In the end, the development committee sided with the applicants, approving the scheme but attaching a series of conditions.
These include strict drainage measures aimed at reducing flood risk – though angry locals say the fortress-style home should never have been allowed in the first place.
Parts of this story first appeared in The Sun and was republished with permission.
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