A farming family wants to expand its business near Southwold by building a lambing shed and a farmhouse.

Benacre-based sheep farmers Tim and Heidi Crick have submitted plans to build on a popular Reydon beauty spot at Rissemere Lane East, known as the Reydon Smear.

Residents have expressed concerns the shed would ruin the look of the area and fears that Rissmere Lane East would end up seeing dozens of lorries driving down it carrying sheep and lambs to the new shed, leading to safety concerns for the people who enjoy walking along it.

But the Cricks said that the vehicles, each one carrying up to 500 sheep and lambs, would access the site through Lowestoft Road and have planted hedgerow which would screen the lambing building.

If Mr and Mrs Crick, who have been at Beach Farm on the Benacre Estate for 22 years and own 75 acres at Rissemere Lane East, get the green light from Waveney District Council for the lambing shed, they will double the number of ewes they have from 6,000 to 12,000.

However the Cricks were also keen to point out that the 6,000 extra ewes would only be a rolling stock of 500 at any one time.

The plans for the lambing shed have drawn criticism from neighbours who fear it will ruin the look of the area.

Philip O’Hear, who has had a home in Rissemere Lane for 30 years, said: “It is on an industrial scale. It is going to be plonked in the middle of an open field in what is part of an area of outstanding natural beauty. It is just inappropriate.”

In November, separate proposals to build nine homes on the same land at Reydon Smear, which is also known locally as The Smere, were dropped by the Waveney Pathfinder Project after a campaign was launched.

The Cricks already have planted hedges around the land, which would screen the lambing building.

In their application the Cricks say by building the new shed it could create five jobs and it would mean that lambing could take place from November to February.

And by moving to a new farmhouse by the shed it would offer the Cricks stability as they only rent their home at Beach Farm and it would help two of their sons, Josh, 21 and Tom, 19, to run their farm.

Mrs Crick said: “If we are not able to increase our flock it will be hard for the boys to be able to make a living out of the farm.”

People have until February 27 to comment on the plans.