A landowner could be asked to take down fencing after extending two gardens without permission in a village on the Broads.

Ben Hunt wanted to change the use of land off Ormesby Lane in Filby from agricultural to residential. 

But Great Yarmouth Borough Council refused the application last November, prompting Mr Hunt to appeal the decision to the Planning Inspectorate.

His petition has now been dismissed.

When the inspector, Graham Wraight, visited the site, the land was already fenced off and being kept as short mown grass.

He said the gardens encroached substantially "beyond the established line" of the other gardens along Ormesby Lane.

This resulted in significant harm to the character and appearance of the area, he said.

The applicant had said the additional garden land could make the properties more attractive to potential purchasers - but the inspector said this did not justify permitting a harmful development, even in an uncertain housing market.

READ MORE: Village frets over loss of wildlife as developer revises bid to build 55 houses

A spokesman for Great Yarmouth Borough Council said it was "exploring all options and working with the applicant/appellant to find a solution".

"They are aware that this potentially includes the possibility of formal planning enforcement action and removal of fencing," the spokesman added.

The application had faced 16 objections from Filby Parish Council and from neighbours who raised concerns over the loss of agricultural land.

The parish council said: "The area of land applied for change of use is Grade 1 agricultural land and must be protected at all times."

It is not the first time the area has been the centre of a planning row. 

In 2020, the council refused an application to build 14 houses on land to the east of the site.

One year later, they rejected a bid to build two detached houses on neighbouring land, to the north of Philmar Lodge.