Council ignores over 100 objections to approve new housing estate despite fears it will wreck beloved nature reserve

A council has decided to go ahead with a new housing estate despite over 100 objections being raised by local residents.

West Norfolk Council has voted unanimously to build the 26-home estate on the edge of Downham Market.

The decision came amid concerns from locals that the plans would destroy the nearby Willows Nature Reserve, a haven in the town for deer, foxes, and ducks.

Downham Market Town Council opposed the development of the scheme, reaffirming concerns around the nature reserve as well as drainage concerns in a local area known as “the Fenland bog.”

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Locals also raised concerns surrounding the traffic the estate would cause, as well as pressure on GP surgeries.

The new estate will feature four one and two-bedroom flats, four two-bedroom houses, and 18 three-bedroom houses.

The council believes that the planning committee has found mitigating factors to offset the concerns raised by locals.

Ecologists found the area supports breeding newts and nesting birds, including swifts, house martins, and cuckoos.

A requirement for a Natural England licence before any works affecting the newts has also been enforced.

The developers have also agreed to install signage around the nature reserve and pay towards the upkeep of the site.

It comes just days after residents of a small Somerset village were left devastated after their beloved annual festival was forced to cancel its main day following an administrative blunder discovered just days before the event.

Pitfest, which was set to take place on Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4 in Pitney, saw its entire second day scrapped after a licensing issue emerged at the eleventh hour.

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Organisers announced the news on Wednesday evening, saying: "It is with broken hearts and the deepest regret that we have to announce that, due to a last-minute incident, we are unable to proceed with Pitfest on Saturday July 4, 2026."

The statement added: "We sincerely apologise for this disappointment and know that many of you will be feeling as saddened and frustrated as we are. Pitfest means so much to our community, and this decision has not been taken lightly."

The error stemmed from the temporary event notice submitted by festival organisers. While the application described Pitfest as a "live music event", the form's question about licensable activities was answered incompletely.

Organisers had only indicated they would be selling alcohol, failing to mention that food vendors and musical performances would also feature at the event.

This omission meant the Saturday programme could not legally proceed and would have left the festival without insurance cover.

The council stated that proceeding with the originally planned activities "would not be legal and therefore be uninsured", leaving organisers with no option but to abandon the Saturday festivities entirely.

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