Plans have been lodged to officially turn a former gospel hall into a cat café. 

The owner of the old Olive's Pizzeria on Dereham Road is seeking permission to change the property into a cat lounge and art gallery.

While the building has not been used as a place of worship for some time, it is still officially designated as such and should not be used for any other purpose - including as a cat café - until Norwich City Council (NCC) approves the change.  

As well as being a pizzeria, the site has also been a garden centre and car sales shop. None of the previous uses appear to have had proper permission.

Eastern Daily Press: Olive Pizzeria Olive Pizzeria (Image: The Cat House)

A planning statement to NCC on behalf of the owner, Sarah Price, said: “Overall, the use of the site as a cat lounge and café is considered to be a suitable change of use of the site, in keeping with the neighbouring properties and previous informal uses of the site."

Alongside the 'cat lounge sessions' the venue will hold workshops including a cat life-drawing class and cat yoga classes.

The cafe is aiming for a July opening.