Citizen magazine Winter 2024 - text version - Work to explore the future of City Hall

Work to explore the future of City Hall 

Work to explore the future use of our iconic City Hall continues

In October, our cabinet agreed to continue work looking at how our historic, Grade II* listed, City Hall could be used in future.

They considered a report which looked at all the possible future uses for the building. It recommended council business and civic activities should remain at the heart of the building and some options that could create benefits for the whole city.

The first option would mean refurbishing the building to create better public access, fit for purpose council office space, grade ‘A’ lettable space and event and conference opportunities.

The second option would include this work and go a step further by adding an extension to the rear, as intended in the original 1938 plans for the building.

The rear extension could be used for offices, homes, or a hotel and would include a new, publicly accessible courtyard and improvements to the public spaces around City Hall.

Cabinet agreed they would like the next stage of work to be done to develop a business case around these options and the many architectural, technical, and financial reports needed to prepare for any change.

Council leader, Cllr Mike Stonard, said: “Our stunning building has so much to love, and we need to make sure it’s not only fit for the future but make the most of our cherished asset for the city.

“We have a great opportunity here to create a future for the building that benefits Norwich by creating improved amenities, attracting more visitors, and increasing spending in the city.

“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 about these options. “It’s vital that we hear from the people of Norwich on this so we can make the best decisions for the city.

“We’re taking the time to plan this now and expect to get underway with these conversations early next year.”