A row has broken out between a developer and a planning department over a delayed bid to build more than 40 houses.

Bennett Homes, based in Bury St Edmonds, is blaming Great Yarmouth Borough Council's "failure" to process their application on "a lack of resources".

The proposal is for 44 houses and converting a barn into two houses on land south of Somerton Road and east of White Street in Martham.

The council, however, has hit back and said the application would likely have been refused.

A council spokesperson said: ‘’In this instance the application could not proceed because the proposals presented challenges around local planning policy and statutory consultees."

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The site off Somerton Road in Martham where Bennett Homes wants to build 44 houses. The site off Somerton Road in Martham where Bennett Homes wants to build 44 houses. (Image: Google Maps)

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The developer is now appealing to the Planning Inspectorate against the borough council's non-determination of the application.

Planning documents indicate a meeting took place on October 25 last year with the council's case officer, the developer and their planning agent, when it was confirmed the case officer would reply to the applicant with their assessment of the application.

According to the developer, however, this did not happen.

A statement lodged with the council on June 19 said the developer continued to chase the borough council, but received no response and decided to appeal against non-determination.

"The appellant can only assume the application was not determined due to a lack of resources," the document states.

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The borough council spokesperson said: "Unfortunately, the applicant was unable to find a suitable solution within their desired timescales and has exercised their right to appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.

‘’This means the application can no longer be determined by the local planning authority and timescales for the Inspectorate decision will be much more prolonged."

The application is facing objections from three neighbours who have flagged concerns over the combined impact on traffic of various developments in the village, as well as the potential for White Street to become a "rat-run".