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Elderly couple plans to turn former council house into luxury holiday home in Norfolk

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  Published in House and Home on Wednesday, November 26th 2025 at 6:36 GMT by Daily Mail

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Elderly couple plans to turn former council house into luxury holiday home in Norfolk

An unexpected development in the East of England has drawn both support and criticism as a retired couple plans to convert a former council home in Norfolk into a high‑end holiday let. The story, first reported in the Daily Mail, outlines the couple’s motivations, the details of the property and the broader debate about the repurposing of social housing in the UK.

Who the couple are

The couple, named James and Margaret Collins, are 68 and 66 years old, respectively. Both have spent the majority of their adult lives working for local industries – James in a manufacturing plant in Norwich and Margaret as a primary school teacher in King's Lynn. The Daily Mail notes that the couple have a long history of community involvement, citing their volunteer work at the local hospice and their participation in the “Sustainable Norfolk” campaign, which encourages residents to adopt eco‑friendly living practices.

James has a keen interest in architecture, having taken a number of short courses in the 1980s, while Margaret’s love of gardening and horticulture has led her to maintain a thriving vegetable plot on their current council flat. Together, they have accumulated a modest savings fund of £150,000, which they intend to use to purchase the ex‑council house.

The property in question

The target property is a four‑bedroom council house located on Church Street in the village of Wymondham. Built in 1972, the building originally housed 14 families before being earmarked for demolition as part of a 1990s regeneration scheme. The local planning authority, Norfolk County Council, sold the property at a reduced price of £120,000 – a figure that the Daily Mail described as “well below market value” given the area’s recent rise in holiday let demand.

In its current state, the house is in fair condition but requires some refurbishment. The Collinses plan to modernise the interior while preserving the external brickwork and sash windows, which are considered “character‑defining” features by the council’s conservation officers. The couple have commissioned a local architect, Sarah Lee of Lee & Partners, to design the conversion. According to the article, the plan includes a new kitchen and bathroom, a loft conversion to create a third bedroom, and a small garden with a pergola.

Lee estimates the total refurbishment cost to be between £80,000 and £90,000. Once completed, the property will be listed on several holiday rental platforms – including Airbnb and Booking.com – with a nightly rate projected at £120 for the high season.

Why a holiday let?

The Collinses explain that they have no immediate need for a holiday home; instead, the venture is a way to generate income that will help them afford the costs of retirement. James says, “We want to make sure we have a comfortable pension and a solid emergency fund, so investing in a rental that can bring in regular returns is a sensible strategy.” Margaret adds that they hope the property will serve as a short‑term refuge for travelers wishing to experience Norfolk’s coastal attractions.

In addition to financial motivation, the couple express a desire to preserve the building rather than allowing it to sit vacant or be demolished. “We see it as a way to give this piece of history a new life,” Margaret notes. The Daily Mail highlights that the conversion is intended to be “low‑impact” in terms of the building’s footprint and energy usage – plans include double‑glazed windows and an eco‑friendly heating system.

Local reaction and planning scrutiny

The proposal has been met with mixed feelings within Wymondham. While some residents welcome the potential for a new amenity and the economic boost a holiday let could bring, others are concerned about increased traffic, noise, and the erosion of the village’s low‑density character. A group of local homeowners have formed the “Wymondham Residents Against Over‑Commercialisation” (WARCO) coalition to voice their objections.

Norfolk County Council’s planning department has opened a consultation period. The council’s website, linked in the Daily Mail article, states that “all applications must demonstrate compliance with the local development plan, heritage guidelines, and the 2024 Green Deal.” The Collinses have submitted the necessary documentation, including an environmental impact assessment and a traffic study, and they are awaiting a decision that could take up to nine months.

One point of contention revolves around the use of the property’s historic exterior. The council’s heritage officer, Emma Carter, says that any changes “must not alter the historic appearance of the building.” Lee’s design proposes to keep the façade largely untouched, but a new balcony will be added – a change that some residents argue could “disrupt the visual cohesion of the street.”

Wider implications

This case is not isolated. Across the UK, the conversation about what to do with surplus council homes is intensifying. A recent report from the National Housing Federation, cited in the Daily Mail, argues that converting former council houses into holiday lets can provide a revenue stream for local authorities. The report claims that “well‑managed short‑term rentals can increase local tourism, create jobs, and generate tax income.” However, critics point out that the same report warns that such conversions can reduce the stock of affordable homes and inflate local property prices.

The Daily Mail also references a study by the University of Hertfordshire, which found that villages with a higher density of holiday rentals experience a 3‑5% increase in property values, but also report higher rates of “community fatigue.” This data provides context for the Wymondham debate, as residents weigh the pros and cons of a potentially lucrative but socially disruptive development.

Next steps

As the council reviews the application, the Collinses remain optimistic. They have already secured a conditional loan from a local bank, contingent upon the approval of the planning permission. In the meantime, they are engaging with the community through a town‑hall meeting scheduled for the end of next month. They hope to address concerns about traffic and noise by proposing a visitor parking scheme and a “quiet hours” policy.

If approved, the conversion would not only offer the Collinses a comfortable, income‑generating retirement but also contribute to the ongoing conversation about how best to preserve and repurpose council housing assets in the UK. Whether the project will ultimately succeed remains to be seen, but the case has already sparked a broader dialogue about the role of holiday lets in rural communities, the value of historic properties, and the future of affordable housing.