West Norfolk Council is selling a parcel of land next to a short-for-space graveyard – saying it is not suitable to facilitate an expansion.

The authority is asking for offers starting at £500,000 to take on the former nursery space on Gaywood Hall Drive, which it has now deemed “a surplus”.

A spokesperson told the Lynn News that following an officer assessment, it decided to open the land up to the market, and it has now been listed with estate agents Brown & Co.

Councillors were recently accused of “passing the buck” rather than finding a solution to the area’s cemetery crisis, which could see Lynn run out of grave space by April.

Gaywood councillor Rob Colwell said he is “concerned that a way forward has not yet been found or communicated to councillors”, despite a working group being set up to specifically tackle the issue.

The borough council spokesperson confirmed the 1.27-acre plot was “not considered” as an expansion point for the graveyard.

“The groundwater levels in that area are high and, due to this, it may not have been permitted under the current rules,” they said.

In the past, the authority has explored other avenues to make use of the nursery land, and was given outline planning permission to build eight homes on the site in 2019 – but nothing ever went ahead.

“The approval has now expired,” the spokesperson added.

“It is not unusual for planning permission to be granted in areas and then, due to many factors, the decision is made not to develop on the land.”

If a buyer is found, the site’s sale will be discussed at a cabinet meeting.