Drayton Road site in Norwich to become huge care home

Plans have been submitted to build an 82-bed residential care home in the former 19th century lime kiln site in Drayton Road.

The land has stood empty for more than 20 years and has become a magnet for litter and anti-social behaviour.

But if the proposals put forward by Drayton Road Land Ltd are given the green light the site will be transformed into a state-of-the-art building featuring ensuite bedrooms across three floors.

The care home will also have lounges, dining rooms, a café, a salon, a nail bar and a kitchen.

The building will be similar in style to those in the surrounding area (Image: Lanpro) Chrissie Rumsby, Labour county councillor for Mile Cross, said: "It is great that someone could finally be getting rid of the derelict land and providing more jobs for local people. 

"In general, I would want to see any derelict land turned into social housing but sadly, unless the government gives the council money to build more, this is where we are.

"We have so many homeless people and hundreds on the housing list.

"This seems like a good alternative that will bring more employment to the area for local people."

Chrissie Rumsby, Labour county councillor for Mile Cross (Image: Norfolk Labour) However, with initial plans suggesting that only around 10 parking spaces will be built on the site, she warned: "I do think people will raise issues about the parking.

"Drayton Road is a busy road with lots of parking wars as it is.

"An 82-bed care home will need an awful lot of staff - where will they be parking?

"There will be a lot of agitation if they start parking on the road."

The site has been overgrown and abandoned for 20 years (Image: Denise Bradley) Norwich City Council was on the verge of purchasing the site back in 2023. 

READ MORE: 'Its a shambles and an eyesore' - City site remains derelict after decades untouched

A council spokesman said: "With reference to the land at the Drayton Road lime kiln site, Norwich City Council still has approval from Cabinet to implement a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) if required. 

"However, due to a change in ownership of the land in early 2023, we decided not to implement the order.

"The new owner is aware that the City Council will be scrutinising their progress and could still implement the CPO if the new owners are not able to develop the land themselves."

THE SITE'S HISTORY

Previously agricultural land, the site was converted to a chalk mine and lime kiln works in the 1860s and stayed this way until the early 20th century.

The site has been a magnet for anti-social behaviour and litter (Image: Denise Bradley) By the late 1970s the site was being used as a builder’s merchant and timber yard.

In the 1990s, the land immediately to the southeast was developed as housing and is now known as Lime Kiln Mews.

However, the rest of the site remained undeveloped and became a hotspot for anti-social behaviour, despite being fenced off.

There have been several planning applications for the site before now, including a 2012 application for a nursing and dementia care home, which was approved, and an undetermined application for the building of 29 residential units.