Jacqueline and David Wadsley have abandoned their proposal to develop ten new residences on the Norfolk estate of the late Tony Martin. The decision follows warnings from local officials regarding potential harm to protected wildlife and insufficient road infrastructure at Bleak House Farm.

Claire Wiggs' warning over pipistrelle bats and badgers

The withdrawal of the development plans at Bleak House Farm was driven largely by ecological concerns raised by the King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council. According to documents submitted to the council, ecology officer Claire Wiggs noted that the proposal lacked essential ecological information regarding the site's impact on local wildlife.

Ms. Wiggs highlighted that the area could host several protected species that might be disturbed by the conversion of the five barns. Specifically,the report mentions known records of roosting pipistrelle bats within 1km of the site and badgers within a 2km radius. As a result, the council requested a preliminary ecological appraisal and a roost assessment to determine the presence of these animals before any construction could proceed.

The 60-vehicle daily impact on Emneth Hungate roads

Beyond environmental issues, the proposed development faced significant opposition regarding local infrastructure. Richard Smith, a highways development management officer for Norfolk County Council, identified the single carriageway road leading to the farm as "inadequate" for the projected increase in traffic. The report notes that the road currently lacks both footways and dedicated cycle links, which poses a safety risk.

The scale of the project was a primary concern for highway officials. Smith estimated that the ten new homes would generate approximately 60 vehicle movements every day, a figure he suggested would be to the detriment of highway safety. To mitigate these risks, the official recommended that the development be scaled down to no more than four homes to ensure a more proportional impact on the Emneth Hungate area.

A £2.5 million legacy from Tony Martin

The land at Bleak House Farm in Emneth Hungate was part of a substantial inheritance left by the late shotgun farmer Tony Martin . Following Mr. Martin's death from a stroke last February, Jacqueline Wadsley, 52, was named the sole beneficiary of his £2.5 million estate. The Wadsleys had sought to utilize permitted development rights to transform the existing agricultural buildings into residential properties.

The relationship between the late farmer and the Wadsleys was described as a "father and daughter" style bond. According to the report, Mrs. Wadsley, a former pub landlady from Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, had become close to Mr. martin after he was released from Highpoint Prison in 2003. While the Wadsleys had hoped to redevelop the "modest" agricultural buildings, the complexities of the site's ecology and access have now halted those immediate plans.

Will the Wadsleys pivot to a four-home model?

The withdrawal of the application leaves several critical questions regaring the future of the Norfolk site. It remains unclear whether Jacqueline and David Wadsley will conduct the preliminary ecological assessments requested by Claire Wiggs to satisfy the King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council.. Furthermore, the source does not confirm if the couple will follow Richard Smith's advice to limit the project to four homes instead of ten.

There is also the question of whether the Wadsleys will continue to pursue the project under permitted development rights or if the infrastructure and wildlife hurdles will necessitate a full, formal planning application. For now, the five run-down detached barns at Bleak House Farm remain in their current agricultural state.