Chris Bishop

King's Lynn Internal Drainage Board plans to refurbish the Crabbs Abbey Electric Pumping Station at Stow Bridge, replacing its two ageing electric pumps with modern fish-friendly models and upgrading the electricity supply. A nearby diesel pumping station will be demolished. The work forms part of a £3.5 million drainage improvement programme that also includes a new culvert at Magdalen Bridge and is intended to protect more than 100 homes from flooding.

Plans have been submitted to demolish York House, a three-bedroom property and its outbuildings on High Road in Wisbech St Mary, and convert the site into an extension of a neighbouring used-car lot. The proposal includes changing the land’s use and surfacing it with tarmac. A wildlife survey found no evidence of bats roosting in the house, garage or sheds, but warned that bright lighting from a nearby business could negatively affect bat activity. A planning decision is expected later this year.

An outline planning application proposes building four homes on farmland off Marsh Road at the edge of Terrington St Clement near King's Lynn. The site would be bordered by farmland, with each home having its own access and rear garden. Planning officers have reportedly advised that the proposal is likely to be approved, although the homes' design, layout and landscaping would require later approval.

Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, are reportedly preparing to return to live in the United Kingdom later this month, while retaining homes in California and Portugal. Their location outside London has not been disclosed, with the Cotswolds and Northamptonshire suggested as possibilities, although the article examines whether Norfolk could be their destination because of Prince William and Catherine's proximity to the Sandringham Estate. The move could improve Harry's relationship with King Charles III but may intensify tensions with William, amid years of public criticism, memoir revelations and unresolved family disputes.

Charles Spencer, Diana, Princess of Wales’s brother, will publish Swan Song: Diana, My Sister on September 22, marking his first extended account of her since her death in 1997. He says the book will present his memories and challenge what he considers untruths about Diana. The article recounts Diana’s Norfolk childhood at Park House on the Sandringham Estate, her schooling and family upheaval, followed by her marriage to the future King Charles III, her divorce and death in Paris. Penguin Random House UK describes the book as historically important and uniquely intimate.

West Norfolk Council has refused plans to build five homes on a two-acre site off Fendyke Road in Emneth, near Wisbech. The council said the development would harm the rural character of the area by creating a more suburban appearance, greater density and a different character from the surrounding open fields. Emneth Parish Council also objected, while the applicant argued that the scheme was designed to fit the area and would form a logical extension to the village.

Villagers are divided over McDonald’s plans to build a drive-through restaurant beside the A149 in Heacham, near Hunstanton. The proposal has attracted 134 objections and 46 supporting comments on West Norfolk Council’s planning portal. Opponents cite traffic congestion, road safety, environmental effects, flooding, litter, antisocial behaviour and harm to the village’s character, particularly because the site is near the Grade II-listed Caley Mill and a listed bridge. McDonald’s says the project would represent a multi-million-pound investment and create more than 120 jobs, arguing that its impact on the historic mill would be limited. A company consultation found 52% opposed the scheme, 37% supported it and 9% supported it with reservations.

West Norfolk Council has approved plans to convert a group of 1840s barns on Benns Lane in Terrington St Clement, near King's Lynn, into three three-bedroom homes. Conservation officers described the barns as handsome historic buildings that contribute positively to the area's character. A previous application was refused in 2024 over flood-risk concerns, but the Environment Agency withdrew its objection after proposed floor levels were raised.

West Norfolk Council has approved plans to convert two rundown barns at Cow Croft Field Farm in Emneth Hungate, formerly owned by Tony Martin, into four homes. The smaller permitted-development scheme replaced an earlier proposal for 10 houses that was withdrawn over concerns about wildlife. An ecological survey found negligible effects on protected species, and the application said the conversion would not increase traffic. The main Bleak House property, associated with Martin’s fatal 1999 shooting of burglar Fred Barras, is not included. Martin left his £2.5 million estate, including the farm, to Jacqui and David Wadsley, while the surrounding 164 acres are being sold in two lots for about £1.37 million.

A fundraising appeal has raised £19,818 toward a £22,000 target after farmer Chris Murton, 41, of Thrandeston near Diss, died in a farming accident on July 20. Murton was described as a devoted husband to Carys and father of five children, as well as a committed and hardworking farmer. More than 350 people have donated to help the family with funeral costs and the financial consequences of losing its main provider.

The historic Lord Nelson pub in Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk, is expected to close on September 6 after the Ebrington Collection hands back its lease. Woodforde's Brewery, which leases the Grade II-listed property from the Holkham Estate, is seeking a new operator and says it wants the pub to remain open as an important community and heritage asset. The pub reopened in 2021 following a five-year closure and a restoration costing about £1 million, but its recently appointed general manager, Greg Hacon, has reportedly left.