Plans emerge for yurt at Blackwater Carr in Norfolk Broads

Conservationists Steve Hooper and Mary Alexander have reapplied after the initial application was rejected after being blocked by the Broads Authority.

The couple had originally hoped to turn their small fen and woodland in Postwick into a “natural paradise”, however this project ended when the application for the yurt was rejected.

A map showing the Blackwater Carr site (Image: Google)

The dispute led to them having to put their land up for sale as they said it made their plans to turn it into a thriving nature reserve unsustainable.

Although they still plan to sell their land, the couple are continuing their fight to keep the yurt.  

Steve said: "We've re-applied to keep the yurt but get rid of the bed, with no overnight stays on the site.

The plans to keep the yurt at the site have been resubmitted (Image: Broads Authority)

"This is something the planning inspector took issue with during the first application."

He added: "This is not the outcome we were hoping for.

"The [planning] inspector has made things very difficult for us, and it is uneconomical for us to go to court.

"Having worked on the site for the last five years, this is a disappointing outcome for us.

"We will push ahead with the planning application and hopefully have that approved for the new owners."

READ MORE: Heartbreak as yurt row with Broads Authority forces couple to sell 'nature paradise'

The site is a hub for wildlife (Image: Blackwater Carr)

CREATING A ‘NATURAL PARADISE’

Steve and Mary bought the Blackwater Carr site in 2019 for £59,000 as part of a project to turn it into a nature reserve.

They worked hard to boost its biodiversity in five years, estimating at least 1,000 different species now live there compared to 600 when they bought the site.

Steve said: “I spent a year looking at other sites before finding the paradise, otherwise known as Blackwater Carr

"We managed to increase biodiversity. Slow worms, grass snakes, stoats, toads and water voles have all made it their home as well as 28pc of the UK's endangered bird species."

The couple constructed the yurt at the site to be used as a base for research and educational activities at the reserve, allowing for overnight stays if needed.

But the Broads Authority refused permission for the canvas structure arguing it was harming the Broads landscape and also raised concerns it would be at risk of flooding due to its location in a floodplain.

SCUPPERED PLANS

Steve has started writing a book about their five years at the site, which is set to include the planning row that tainted the final few years.

Eleanor Laming is a Green Party councillor for Postwick (Image: Eleanor Laming)

Councillor Eleanor Laming, Green Party councillor for the Brundall ward, including Postwick with Witton, was strongly in favour of the application from the start.

She said: "I am supporting this application for a number of reasons, but primarily because of the valuable work that was being carried out here in terms of improving biodiversity. 

"Unfortunately, the decision to decline the planning application was devastating for the landowners, and now it is unlikely that the biodiversity, conservation and educational work will continue.

"This was not just a scientific project, but someone's dream to try and improve our natural world."

Blackwater Carr will be going up for sale on forest.co.uk.