Work to turn a derelict eyesore in Mile Cross Road into eco-friendly social housing for Norwich City Council is due to start later this summer.
The former Kings Arms pub, which has been standing empty for a number of years, becoming a target for fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour, was bought by the council last year through a compulsory purchase order.
Planning permission was then given for five homes to be built on the site, designed to a ‘fabric first’ approach to reducing energy use and to ensure they are compliant with emerging standards for low-carbon heating and hot water.
Councillor Gail Harris, Norwich City Council’s cabinet member for social housing, said: “This project is a proactive move that meets the council’s priorities of building and maintaining good-quality social housing to meet demand.
“It also creates an opportunity to repurpose and adapt a vacant and dilapidated building into something positive for Norwich residents.
“It’s another really great development for the city and addition to our growing housing stock.”
The city council had also acquired the house next door to the pub, which was a former council home, sold under the right to buy scheme. This will be kept by the council as part of its housing stock, with part of the garden being used to improve access to the Kings Arms development.
In January this year, work started on procuring a project manager and development agent to lead on the construction of the site. In March, Broadland Housing Association was appointed to this role.
The city council’s cabinet is being asked to award a contract for development on the site at its meeting on Wednesday (7 July), with work due to start later this summer, subject to confirmation by the successful contractor.
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