Plans for King's Lynn flats refused over Festival Too noise

Proposals to change the use of Bishop's Lynn House, on the Tuesday Market Place in King's Lynn, were thrown out in January.

West Norfolk Council said there was not enough evidence to show "occupiers of the proposed development would not be unacceptably affected by noise".

The centuries-old Lynn Mart fair pitches up in the market place each February, while it also hosts Festival Too, a free pop fest which draws thousands each summer.

Festival Too, in King's Lynn, with Bishop's Lynn House in the background near the stage (Image: Ian Burt) In the latest application to turn offices in the property into apartments, developer Gain SPVKL says a request for a noise assessment was received late in the planning process.

It adds one had not been requested for 23 further flats granted planning permission in the rear of the same building.

"The reason for the noise team making this late intervention would seem to be that the Tuesday market Place now hosts noisy late night concerts," it says.

"Occupiers of the flats concerned might choose not to be there on those nights," it says.

King's Lynn Mart pitches up in the Tuesday Market Place each February (Image: Matthew Usher) "We could have added that they could, alternatively, opt to stay to join the fun."

The statement says noise mitigation could have been included as a condition of planning permission being granted.

It adds the Duke's Head Hotel also stands across the square from the building.

Bishop's Lynn House in King's Lynn (Image: Chris Bishop) "Guests would not be paying £100 and more a night if they were kept awake by concerts in the old market place below their windows," it says.

"Why would the occupiers of the proposed flats be any more sensitive to the occasional concert?"

West Norfolk's planning portal lists the application as refused. A formal decision notice has not yet been issued.