Raynham Estate aristocrat in blocked barbed-wire fence bid

Raynham Estate, which is owned by Lord Charles Townshend, had hoped to construct the barrier around Shereford Common, near Fakenham.

This would have enclosed the land, used for grazing cattle, with a perimeter fence in addition to an existing electric fence and wooden fence posts. 

Government officials blocked the move amid concerns it would cut off public access.

Shereford Common, a five-hectare plot of land near Fakenham, is used for grazing cattle (Image: Open Spaces)

The estate, one of the biggest in Norfolk, submitted an application to the Planning Inspectorate - the government department that presides over planning matters - in August 2023. 

It said the barbed-wire fence would: "Keep the land in good agricultural and environmental condition."

However, the move drew fierce criticism from campaign groups.

Raynham Hall in East Raynham (Image: Denise Bradley)

The Open Spaces Society objected to the plans, stating there are public rights of access over the land and that the fence would keep the public out.

It also expressed fears the proposed fence could mean another area of countryside would be lost from the county.

The conservation charity's case officer Hugh Craddock added there was "no evidence" that the estate had been given consent to erect even the original fence, which is thought to have been in place for decades.

After assessing the application the inspector ruled that the fence would have: "No positive impacts on the neighbourhood and would result in a moderate adverse effect on the conservation of the landscape."

Lord Townshend outside Raynham Hall (Image: Newsquest)

Following the decision the estate is likely to have to remove the current border.

Mr Craddock added: "We expect the estate to remove the existing dilapidated fence and embrace some new thinking about how the common should be managed."