Owl Sanctuary pub in Norwich to be turned into housing

Norwich City Council has granted planning permission for the Owl Sanctuary in Cattle Market Street to be turned into five two-bedroom homes. 

The dilapidated building has been vacant since the pub closed more than eight years ago and was snapped up by developers Richard Pratt. 

While City Hall previously gave the green light for a similar project at the site, it has remained boarded up due to a series of delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The Owl Sanctuary pub and music venue before its closure (Image: Antony Kelly)

The new plans will see part of the building demolished and replaced - although the frontage will remain largely unaltered. 

The developers say the site is "no longer viable" for use as a pub and no tenants have been willing to take on the extensive building work that would be required for this to happen. 

It was listed as an asset of community value after its closure and Mr Pratt had intended to turn it into a "mid-market pub and restaurant", but this plan never materialised.

The new housing is hoped to appeal to young families looking to live in a city centre location. 

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The Shirehall pub, pictured in 1991 (Image: Newsquest)

The pub, which dates back to 1833, was located across the street from the old cattle market - where Castle Quarter now stands - and was popular with livestock dealers and farmers at the time. 

Originally known as the Shirehall Arms, it has changed ownership and name five times since 1996 - known as The One & Only, Marquee at the Shirehall, Shirehall, Marquee and the Owl Sanctuary. 

The building was rebuilt in 1845 and also suffered bomb damage during the Second World War.

It was a cornerstone of the city's rock music scene for many years until it closed in 2016.