Residents in a UK hamlet have warned that plans to turn a 300-year-old estate into a holiday park would “destroy” their peace and quiet. The plans to redevelop Browston Hall near Gorleston in Norfolk into an 80-lodge caravan park and spa sparked major backlash after they were submitted for consideration by the borough council. Villagers in the tiny hamlet of Browston Green warned that the development could increase the local population fourfold, which they said its lack of amenities including a bus service and cycle lanes wouldn’t be equipped to handle.
The redevelopment of the building, which dates back to the 17th century, would also include the creation of a new leisure facility, with ten-pin bowling, snooker, a golf simulator and a cafe with capacity for up to 418 visitors. “Browston is a small rural hamlet with no facilities or services,” one resident said. “It is very peaceful with no discernable volume of noise or light pollution, we have almost no crime or anti-social behaviour, extremely low traffic incidents and benefit from abundance of nature and wildlife. All these elements will be under threat from this development [because of] the hundreds of guests, visitors and staff using the site.”
“We bought our dream home in a dream location,” another said. “Now it’s threatened by a huge holiday development that will destroy the peace and tranquility of Browston.”
Others raised concerns about noise pollution, congestion and public safety, including the prospect of drunk holidaymakers trying to ride local horses.
The Browston Hall estate currently includes a golf course and driving range, but in a planning statement developers said further diversification was vital to ensure its future.
“At present, the business operates at a loss and is only able to continue operations as a result of the owner’s financial support,” a planning statement read.
“The golf course is one of the largest financial ‘strains’ on the business, with its maintenance costs significantly exceeding the annual revenue it generates.
“One of the major issues affecting the sustainability of the business, in particular the wedding venue, is the absence of any overnight accommodation for guests.
“Offering overnight accommodation and expanding the facilities to deliver a sustainable, high-quality rural holiday destination will allow the business to return to profitability in time.”