The Revolving Fund

Norwich is a city full of promise - and the Revolving Fund is the key to unlocking it.

This innovative initiative, part of the Norwich Town Deal, is designed to breathe new life into long-stalled brownfield sites across the city. These underused spaces - often derelict, neglected, or attracting antisocial behaviour - have held back progress for years. Now, thanks to the Revolving Fund, they’re being transformed into vibrant places to live and work.

Why it matters

• Revitalising communities: the fund targets sites that have resisted development for over a decade, turning eyesores into energy-efficient homes and modern workspaces.
• Breaking market deadlock: some landowners hold out for unrealistic prices, stalling regeneration. The Revolving Fund enables the council to step in, acquire land (even via Compulsory Purchase Orders if needed), and get development moving.
• Catalysing private investment: by absorbing the risks and costs of acquisition, the fund creates a more attractive landscape for developers and investors.
• Delivering real results: take the former Kings Arms pub site - once derelict, now home to a mix of high-quality social housing, including a bungalow and several family homes, all let through the council’s housing register.

How it works

• sites are carefully selected through rigorous council processes
• acquisitions are approved by Cabinet to ensure transparency and accountability
• properties may be packaged for commercial or residential use, depending on city needs
• the fund is replenished as sites are sold on, making it a sustainable cycle of regeneration.

The bigger picture

This is more than just development - it’s about shaping a dynamic, inclusive, and forward-looking Norwich. The Revolving Fund is a bold step toward a city where every space has purpose, and every resident benefits from thoughtful, strategic growth.