Acle: Care home bid for former florist facing objections

The application, currently in the hands of planners at Broadland District Council, is seeking a change of use, from commercial to residential, of the former The Enchanted Florist on The Street in Acle.

In May, the florist moved to a new location at Moulton Nurseries Garden Centre on Acle Road in Moulton St Mary.

The new plans would see its former premises incorporated back into the original building next door known as Beaconsfield House and form part of a care home for children aged 11 to 17-years-old.

A computer-generated image of four new retail units in the former Barclays Bank in Acle. (Image: Acle Parish Council)

Acle Parish Council is objecting to the application, stating that it would result in the loss of retail space in the village's high street.

"This has been a shop for many many years. The vitality of the village depends on increasing footfall to the local shops and businesses," the council said.

The parish council owns the adjacent former Barclays bank building which is currently being refurbished into four commercial units.

A resident has said that Acle is "a quiet village with not a great deal for 11 to 17-year-olds to do" and is the "wrong place" for the application.

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Lana Hempsall, district councillor for Acle, has called for the application to be heard before the planning committee.

In a letter to the planning officer, she said the application is contrary to the provisions of Acle's neighbourhood plan which specifically protects retail in the centre of the village.

She also believes the application would "adversely affect the character and appearance of the street scene", she said.

The planning officer has written to the applicant, Wayne Redgrave, stating she is not in a position to support the proposal as it "has not been demonstrated that the use of the retail unit is not viable".