Shop and bakery at George and Dragon Public House, King's Lynn

What was proposed

The application sought a shop, bakery, bakery sales area and baking and cooking demonstration area.

“DESCRIPTION OF DEVELOPMENT The application seeks permission for the erection of a proposed shop, bakery, bakery sales and baking and cooking demonstration area.”

Officer report

The site

The public house site lies on the village’s southern edge beside the A1065 and includes accommodation, parking and a beer garden.

“The George and Dragon Public House is situated to the southern edge of the village of Newtown-by-Castle Acre. The site fronts directly onto the A1065, the main road to the North Norfolk Coast between the two market towns of Swaffham (5 miles to the south) and Fakenham (approximately 12 miles to the north), and c.1.3 miles east of Castle Acre.”

“The site comprises the George & Dragon Public House, the Pig Shed Motel and Piglets Holiday Accommodation, along with associated car parking and beer garden.”

Officer report

Earlier applications

Earlier applications covered accommodation, lodges, public house extensions, access, parking, landscaping and related site changes.

“RELEVANT HISTORY There have been a number of historic planning applications on this site; the following are the most recent/relevant: Planning Reference: 3PL/2021/0198/VAR Description: Variation of Condition No 2 on 3PL/2019/0475/F to remove the conference room and include the addition of first floor accommodation.”

“Planning Reference: 3PL/2017/0616/F Description: Erection of 10no. lodges (2 blocks of 5) to land at rear of George and Dragon Public House and associated car parking area; creation of a new access; construction of compound for air source heat pump, underground gas tank, treatment plant, beer garden associated with the Public House and associated landscaping scheme as part of the refurbishment of the Public House…”

Officer report

Officers’ recommendation

Officers recommended refusal because the countryside location, insufficient alternative-site evidence and reliance on private cars made the proposal unacceptable in principle.

“The principle of development is unacceptable and in overall planning judgement terms, the application is accordingly recommended for refusal for the following reasons:”

“The proposed development is situated outside any defined settlement boundary and lies on land that is not allocated for employment purposes within the adopted spatial strategy. By seeking to relocate an already established business to this countryside location, the proposal introduces new commercial activity in an area where such development is not supported in principle.”

Officer report

Who spoke

Representations were made under the public speaking scheme, and a ward representative spoke in support of the application.

Members’ view

Members considered the application in detail against prevailing policies and guidance, with further information in the supplementary agenda.

“Members considered the matter and fully explored the details of the application in light of prevailing policies and guidance.”

“Further information had been included in the supplementary agenda.”

Minutes

The vote

Members unanimously voted against the officer’s recommendation of refusal.

“DECISION: Members voted unanimously against the officer’s recommendation of refusal.”

Minutes

The decision

Members unanimously approved the application, subject to officers receiving delegated authority to impose suitable conditions.

“Reasons: Members felt that the overall benefits to the economy outweighed any harm with the conflict of Policies EC04 and EC05 of the Local Plan.”

“DECISION: Members voted unanimously to approve the application, subject to delegated authority being given to Officers to impose suitable conditions.”

Minutes