Council agrees to explore City Hall plan in detail

Plans to refurbish City Hall in Norwich and add a hotel, housing or offices to the back of the building have taken a step forward after the council cabinet agreed that a business case should be prepared.

The city council has been looking at options for its Grade II*-listed building, which would continue to be its headquarters but could see some of the space turned over for event or conference hire.

A second option would include building an extension and creating a landscaped courtyard.

“We have a huge opportunity here to create a future for the building that boosts the entire city, with the potential to create up to £102m in economic benefits, depending on the scale of the option eventually taken forward," said council leader Michael Stonard.

“These benefits for Norwich would come from creating improved amenities that attract more use and increase spending in the city over the lifetime of the development," he added.

The cabinet heard the first option would see the building refurbished to provide better public access, fit-for-purpose council office space, "grade A" lettable space and event and conference opportunities.

The further option involves adding an extension, which the council said was intended in the original 1938 plans for the building, which could be used for offices, homes, or a hotel.

The council is facing significant financial pressures and previously warned that it needed to make more than £9.5m in savings over the next five years.

City Hall itself costs £2m a year to maintain.

As reported earlier this month, concerns have been raised that the plan would cost £750,000 in professional fees related to the scheme and to help outline the case for the redevelopment.

“We’re still at an early stage and a significant part of what comes next will be gathering feedback from our residents, businesses, partners, and the voluntary and creative sectors," added Mr Stonard.

“It’s vital that we hear from the people of Norwich on this so we can make the best decisions for the city about how we continue to move forward.

“We’re taking the time to plan this now and expect to be getting under way with these conversations early next year."

The development of a business case would include gathering the architectural, technical, and financial reports needed to prepare for any change to a listed, heritage building like City Hall, the council said.

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