Planning appeal turned down as Salhouse gate sparks anger

But for others, a gateway revamp has brought a "hideous fortress" to a rural village. 

The fence in Salhouse has caused controversy among locals (Image: Denise Bradley)

The house frontage, in Salhouse, has caused controversy after a metallic boundary gate approaching six feet in height was built without planning permission. 

And now, following an unsuccessful appeal to the Planning Inspectorate, the Station Road homeowner in question has been ordered to tear down the "out of character" eyesore.

What happened?

The story begins in late 2022 when a fence and wall were constructed around the driveway without receiving prior approval from Broadland District Council.

The development caused a stir among locals - with some complaining about lighting on the front wall which was said to be "so bright" it lit up the bedrooms of those living nearby. 

In February 2023, Sarah Taylor submitted a retrospective planning application. 

The bungalow entrance prior to the erection of the fencing and cladding (Image: Google Maps)

But officers refused permission last July and deemed the changes were "detrimental" to the surrounding area.

Ms Taylor decided to take her case to the national Planning Inspectorate - arguing the reasons for refusal were "subjective".

She also claimed the existing homes in Station Road are "largely lacking in a distinctive or valuable character" and the development would "improve the distinctiveness of the area with a more interesting design".

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Despite this, the Planning Inspectorate has recently thrown the application out on the grounds that the gate would cause "material harm" and "conflict with the [local] development plan".

"Lit up like a Christmas tree!"

Folk in the area seemed split on the decision. 

One neighbour lodged an official objection with Broadland, arguing the lights - which were left on in the evening - were "so bright they come into my front bedroom".

Another neighbour - who asked to remain anonymous - told this newspaper: "It's hideous.

"There were blue lights on the fence to begin with and then they changed them to white.

The application was dismissed by both Broadland District Council and the national Planning Inspectorate (Image: Denise Bradley)

"But it's still lit up like a Christmas tree at night. There's just no need for that."

Charlotte Pullum, who lives in Station Road, said she was aware the fence had upset a lot of people - but didn't feel the need to submit an official complaint.

"I think they could've been a bit nicer about it," she added.

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"If they were, then people might not have been so upset.

"You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar."

Locals seemed split on the Planning Inspectorate's decision (Image: Denise Bradley)

A district councillor's view

The village dispute prompted Fran Whymark, district councillor for the area, to get involved. 

He told Broadland's planning committee that he objected to the development, adding: "The wall and gate are too high and substantially different in character to any local property.

Broadland district councillor Fran Whymark (Image: Newsquest)

"There have been children living on Station Road, as there still is, and this has not led to the need to build external walls and gates to this extent.

"Were this to become the accepted norm, any street with downstairs bedrooms, which had cars driving through could become a fortress with large walls all along the street."

An area 'largely lacking in character'?

In her appeal to the Planning Inspectorate, Ms Taylor argued light pollution omitted from the fencing was "minimal" as it projected "onto the face of the building".

She also said the development could be justified under permitted development policies and, where this was not the case, further justification had been provided in the appeal statement.

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Ms Taylor further offered to add more landscaping to the outside wall, "such as a growing plant", and was happy for this to be secured by way of a planning condition.

The applicant claimed other homes in the road were lacking in character (Image: Denise Bradley)

She concluded: "The dwellings along Station Road are largely lacking in a distinctive or valuable character and the site is external to any conservation area.

"The policies referenced in the refusal reason are subjective and the development carried out is considered to improve the distinctiveness of the area with more interesting design."

Multiple attempts to contact Ms Taylor were made following the inspector's decision, but opportunities to comment were declined.