Norwich's Wensum Lodge is up for sale after failed campaign

Local groups had until early April to come up with bids to take over the city centre building, which had provided adult learning courses since the 1960s.

But after no formal offers were made, the King Street venue is now on the market.

Norwich's Wensum Lodge is up for sale after a failed campaign to keep the former-adult education centre in the community. (Image: Newsquest)

A spokesman for Norfolk County Council said: “Wensum Lodge has been placed on the open market following the conclusion of a six month moratorium period, which reflected the site’s status as an Asset of Community Value. 

“The process is now open to both community and commercial bidders. 

“We are marketing the property with a view to securing the future of this historic building and providing a return to the county council.”

The future of the building has been up in the air since Norfolk County Council's Conservative-controlled cabinet voted last summer to close the centre, paving the way for its potential sale.

The council said courses being taught at the lodge would be moved online, with many already being taught virtually.

But following a petition signed by more than 3,000 people plus a protest at the lodge, the venue was declared an asset of community value, giving local groups a grace period to come up with bids to buy the site.

Friends of Wensum Lodge had been campaigning to prevent the venue being sold off (Image: Dan Grimmer)

Andrew Haigh, commercial surveyor at Brown & Co, which is managing the sale, said: “The site is within the City Centre Conservation Area and the development should focus on the re-use of the existing buildings for a wide range of appropriate commercial, leisure, or residential conversions, subject to the character and form of the buildings being conserved and enhanced.

“Norwich City Council has promoted King Street as a regeneration priority for a number of years. This site is a key location to achieve that.”