Waveney River Centre (WRC) has won its appeal against a Broads Authority planning decision restricting 10 residential moorings at the popular holiday site to temporary use.

Norwich Evening News: Waveney River Centre. Picture: Nick ButcherWaveney River Centre. Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant © 2017)

In order to increase revenue over the winter months, the centre applied in 2015 to convert 10 mooring sites for residential use.

The Broads Authority granted temporary permission which was set to expire on January 22, 2021, at which point the moorings would have to revert to visitor or private use.

The authority imposed the temporary condition in order to assess the impact that permanent residential moorings would have on the business.

Waveney River Centre MD James Knight appealed the decision, which was upheld by the planning inspectorate.

Norwich Evening News: James Knight, MD of the Waveney River Centre. Picture: Sonya DuncanJames Knight, MD of the Waveney River Centre. Picture: Sonya Duncan (Image: ARCHANT EASTERN DAILY PRESS (01603) 772434)

In its decision, the inspectorate found that it was 'highly unlikely that boat-owners wanting a permanent mooring would sign up to a temporary mooring'.

The Planning Inspectorate further found that there was an 'unmet need for lawful and permanent moorings' and that the temporary condition had been 'neither reasonable nor necessary'.

In a statement, Mr Knight said: 'What this means is that the temporary planning condition – which would have required all residential use to cease in January 2021 – has been removed from our planning consent, so that we won't be forced to evict our residents in three years or so.

'The planning inspector, correctly in our view, found that the temporary condition was unreasonable, unnecessary, imprecise and unenforceable, and created a situation where nobody was likely to take up a residential mooring for fear of being asked to leave – with no possibility of finding a legitimate alternative mooring.'

He said the decision was a 'significant outcome' not just for Waveney River Centre, but for the Broads as a whole.

'The Broads Authority has identified a need for over 60 residential moorings on the Broads, but there is currently only one 'authorised' residential mooring.

'We are delighted to be the first location which is able to offer this facility to a wider audience.

'We hope that this decision will allay the fears of prospective residents and we look forward to welcoming residential berth holders in the future.'