Infamous farm of Tony Martin set to become homes

Barns which belonged to the farmer Tony Martin could be turned into a housing development.

They are part of the farm at Bleak House near Emneth in Norfolk, where Martin shot two burglars in 1999, killing one of them.

Plans have been submitted by the couple who Martin left his estate to – which is worth just over £2.5m - following his death last year.

In a letter to West Norfolk Council, agents for Jacqueline and David Wadley have said they want to convert five barns on the site into ten homes.

Bleak House became infamous following the shooting of 16-year-old Fred Barras in August 1999.

Barras had broken into the semi-derelict home on the Norfolk-Cambridgeshire with accomplice Brendon Fearon, 29.

They had travelled from Newark in Nottinghamshire that evening to raid the property at Emneth Hungate, where Martin stored antiques.

The farmer heard them, came down from an upstairs bedroom and opened fire with a pump-action shotgun.

Barras died at the farm while Fearon was treated in hospital for his injuries.

Martin was convicted of murder and jailed for life, but the charge was later downgraded to manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility and he was released in 2003.

He returned to the farm but said he never moved back into his house, often sleeping in a car on the site.

Last month it emerged that Martin had left his estate to former pub landlady Jacqueline Wadley, who was described as "a very loyal friend" to the farmer.

The estate included the land and buildings at Bleak House.

In planning documents, architects have said the couple want to transform five barns, described as "functional agricultural buildings and modest in appearance", into homes.

They have argued that under what is called "permitted development", planning permission is not required for the proposals.

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