A developer has been given permission in principle to build nine new bungalows on a patch of land off Heathfield Road in High Kelling, near Holt.

The plans have long sparked opposition from locals who believe the adjacent A148 is too dangerous.

The road, which runs between King's Lynn and Cromer, has been a cause for concern in the village for years.

Four people have died on the 44 mile-road over the past decade, prompting repeated calls for lower speed limits, better crossing points and broader safety improvements along its entire length.

In December 2024, when Sheila and Campbell Welsh, aged 81 and 82, were killed after being struck by a Mini Cooper outside a carol service they had been attending with friends.

Sheila and Campbell Welsh (Image: Submitted)

A coroner later found the driver could not reasonably have avoided them as the couple were crossing in dark clothing on the unlit road.

A man had been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving but faced no further action.

However their deaths led to widespread concern in High Kelling about the safety of the road.

Their granddaughter launched a petition calling for safety improvements which was signed by more than 1,000 people, and Norfolk County Council carried out a "comprehensive" safety review.

Future residents will be pulling out from Avenue Road onto the A148 (Image: Google)

The plans for the nine bungalows (Image: Ensemble)

Future residents of the new homes would join the A148 via Avenue Road, pulling out onto the carriageway just yards from where the couple lost their lives.

Prior to the decision by North Norfolk District Council's planning committee, more than 80 villagers had packed into a public meeting to voice their frustrations.

More than 40 formal objections were lodged, and the parish council also opposed the plans.

Peter Rutherford, a parish councillor who spoke at Thursday's meeting, said it was his understanding that no further development had previously been permitted on that side of the A148 precisely because of the dangers at the Avenue Road junction.

"This site is not suitable for residential development," he said. "It is impossible to gain safe access onto the A148 for any additional housing."

Mr and Mrs Walsh were killed after a carol service in the village (Image: Newsquest)

There is still scope for the application to be blocked, however.

Permission in principle is an early-stage consent covering only location, land use and scale.

A second stage - technical details consent - must still be passed before anything can be built, and it is at that stage that highway safety will face full scrutiny.

The highways authority also warned it would likely raise safety objections when the scheme returns for its second stage - flagging poor visibility at junctions and the unadopted nature of the access roads.

Andrew Brown, a Lib Dem councillor (Image: NNDC)

Andrew Brown, a Lib Dem councillor, acknowledged the weight of the decision.

"Whatever we decide today, if we do approve it, it should in no way be an indication that when it comes back for technical details it will be approved," he said.

"This is definitely a Champions League semi-final first leg - the second leg will determine the result, and that is yet to be played."

© Eastern Daily Press