Norwich City Council agree £750,000 spend on City Hall plans

Norwich City Council's Labour-controlled cabinet assigned the huge sum to draw up detailed plans for the landmark building, which is set to undergo a major revamp. 

The proposals could see the Grade II* listed building extended to house a new courtyard and hotel complex or flats, with a view to raise funds for the cash-strapped authority.

Despite concerns about the cost of the scheme, councillors voted in favour of spending three-quarters of a million pounds on design works at a meeting this week. 

Norwich City Hall (Image: Eden Dorrell) WHAT ARE THE PROPOSALS? 

City Hall has been the seat of local government in Norwich since its completion in 1938.

The council says the layout of the building is "outdated and inefficient", with only 43pc used as workspace and the rest reserved for meetings and storage. 

While the authority has stressed that its activities will remain based at City Hall, the new proposals would see the building refurbished and extended to the rear for office, hotel, or residential use along with a public courtyard. 

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Norwich City Hall could be turned into a hotel under new proposals (Image: Mike Page) City Hall has been considered for such a development several times over the years, as the council promoted the building at international property events, but these ambitions have never been realised. 

WHAT IS MONEY BEING SPENT ON? 

Councillors have agreed to spend £750,000 to cover professional fees related to the scheme. 

This will include the development of designs and an outline business case, which will set out the rationale behind the project. 

Some councillors have raised concerns about the large sum assigned to the project and questioned how this will be used.

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Lucy Galvin, leader of the Green group (Image: Denise Bradley) Lucy Galvin, leader of the Green group, said six years of research and consultancy had already been carried out to explore options for the building. 

"I'm left wondering why this has taken so long and how much it has cost so far," she added.

Grade II* listed properties are a sub-division of Grade II, but deemed to be of particularly special interest or national importance.