Josh Twigden, managing director of Bewick Homes, made the comment in response to Norwich City Council who pointed out the issue at the converted office block in Thorpe Road.

Mr Twigden had to apply for retrospective planning permission for the site last year after people had already moved into the newly converted flats.

(Image: Chaplin Farrant)

Planners for the authority have threatened to refuse granting the bid if the issue around accessibility access is not addressed.

If planning permission is refused it could result in the tenants being evicted.

In considering the scheme, planning officers pointed out despite a disabled parking space being provided outside the building, there was not adequate access to the building for disabled tenants.

A council landscaping officer said: “Key information is still outstanding, and the proposals cannot be supported at this stage.

"No hard landscape details have been submitted, nor have levels drawings been provided, despite an earlier request.

“These drawings are necessary to understand the layout and circulation, particularly in relation to accessibility and will need to be supplied by the applicant.

“Until this information is received, the scheme must be refused, as there appears to be no accessible route into the building for disabled users, despite the provision of a dedicated disabled parking space.”

The plans are still being considered by City Hall (Image: Chaplin Farrant)

However, a frustrated Mr Twigden wrote in an email to the council that officials should be overruled and disabled people would live elsewhere.

He said: “My initial response is on planning balance can you just overrule the landscape officer.

"A disabled person will seek housing in another location.

"I have spent over a year on this now and would like your support to get this over the line so we can all move on to more productive tasks."

After a recent system upgrade to Norwich City Council's planning site, the email from Mr Twigden appears to have been removed from the public access planning portal.

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