West Norfolk Council has told parish councillors the Coal Barn beside the harbour at Thornham, near Hunstanton, "would not be regarded as ruinous or dilapidated" despite a gaping hole in one of its walls.

An email from its planning enforcement officer Hannah Shackloth said: "The owner has advised that she would like to undertake repairs to the building when funding allows, although there are currently no plans in place to carry out such works.

The large hole in the side of the Coal Barn (Image: Chris Bishop)

"Consultation was undertaken with building control to establish whether the structure could be considered dangerous.

"Building control were provided with photographs from site visits, and discussions were held with them.

"Having reviewed the available information, they advised that whilst the building is in a poor state of repair, the photographs did not indicate an imminent collapse or a dangerous structure."

Concerns were first raised over the state of the building in early 2024 after bricks and rubble fell away, exposing the breeze blocks underneath.

A hole first appeared in the side of the building in the spring of 2024 (Image: Chris Bishop)

Material was stacked on the quayside and a plastic mesh fence erected, which has since come down and not been replaced.

The email said action was considered against the owner under the Town and Country Planning Act.

But it added: "The hole in the wall is not visible from the public highway or the principal walking routes.

"The building is situated away from the village and cannot be seen from residential properties. The damage is only visible from the rear of the structure or from........

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