An enforcement notice has been issued to a landowner ordering him to remove shipping containers from land on which a former railway used to run.

The four double-stacked shipping containers are located at a property on Thornage Road between Holt and Thornage. 

North Norfolk District Council issued the notice on Thursday, October 3, stating the containers breached planning control.

The notice said the placement of the containers has meant a material change of land use, of which the landowner at Oakhill House does not have permission.

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The district council said in the notice: "It appears the breach of planning control has occurred within the last 10 years regarding the material change in use and four years regarding the operational development. 

"Therefore the alleged breach has not become immune from enforcement action."

The notice also highlighted the land on which the containers have been stationed was previously part of an historic railway line.

The former line has been earmarked by the Melton Constable Trust, which aims to rebuild on the old track bed and establish a rail corridor that would reconnect Fakenham with Holt through Melton Constable as part of the Norfolk Orbital Railway project.

A map from the report outlining where the containers are located at point marked A.A map included in the report. The point marked A are where the containers are located. (Image: Cadcorp 2024) According to the report, when the railway line was removed, trees and shrubs were able to regrow in the area, which became a sanctuary for wildlife. 

However, since work to bed the containers in the ground has taken place, the removal of the regenerated foliage that helped screen the land has left the area and the containers exposed and visible from Thornage Road.

The notice from NNDC said: "The size, scale and appearance of the shipping containers does not preserve or enhance the character and quality of the land. 

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"The containers are not in keeping with the area and are visually detrimental to the Glaven Valley Conservation Area.

"They are also contrary to the council's policy of development in the countryside."

The landowner has the right to appeal the enforcement notice before it comes into effect on November 4.

Otherwise, the landowner is required to remove the shipping containers by December 4 and is to also restore the levels of the land that have been excavated by January.