Developers Bluecrest Land had sought permission from South Norfolk Council two years ago to construct a 75-bed care facility at the Langley Road site in Chedgrave.

The plans required all existing buildings at the site to be demolished to make way for what would have been the second-largest care home in the area, with the existing 45-bedroom Beauchamp House on the same road.

The initial designs put forward by the developer (Image: Illustrate Architects)

Now the applicant has been refused permission to construct the care facility, eight new homes, alongside a café and new private leisure spaces for those living in the complex.

The scheme sparked local resistance, which prompted the developer to submit a revised application in August last year.

There were fears from Historic England that the proposed scale and height would create a "canyoning effect" along the road (Image: Illustrate Architects)

In the new application crucial details, such as the number of beds, wider designs, and layout specifics, were left out of the plans completely.

Chedgrave Parish Council formally objected, saying the new submission offered "no supporting information whatsoever on design, appearance or impact on the local community".

The initial design showed a three-storey care home, which would be located opposite the White Horse pub, becoming a key feature of the village streetscape.

An illustrative view of the proposed amenity space as seen in the initial application (Image: Illustrate Architects)

A number of locals had come forward with their concerns including about the sewerage system, overshadowing of other properties, inadequate parking, and asbestos.

One neighbour criticised the scheme and said the developer had "no interest in the community, only an interest in profitable development."

The existing views of the site in Chedgrave (Image: Illustrate Architects)

While the site now sits derelict, locals claim it used to be a "thriving, friendly, helpful estate meeting the needs of the local community".

The site was previously home to a number of businesses, including Funky Feet Performing Arts and Dance School, which had to find a new premises to make way for the proposed scheme.

In its refusal South Norfolk Council said: "Due to the conflict of this particular proposal with adopted policy it is not possible to support the proposed development and find a solution to the planning issues."

© Eastern Daily Press