Angel Yard co-housing scheme in Norwich set for approval

The unusual proposals for a former industrial site in Sussex Street date back to 2015, when a group of people came together to purchase the site.

They set out to create the city's first co-housing community, named Angel Yard, with private properties connected through communal areas and a spirit of sharing.

Since the vacant site on the corner of Sussex Street and Oak Street was purchased, the scheme has struggled to get off the ground.

However, planning officers at City Hall have now recommended that councillors grant permission for the project to go ahead. 

The vacant site near Anglia Square (Image: Google Maps)The proposals, which were finally submitted in 2022, would see the construction of two four-storey blocks of flats along with six terraced houses. There would be a total of 34 new dwellings. 

On the ground floor of one of the blocks of flats there would be a common house with a kitchen, storeroom and laundry, guest room and other communal facilities for occupiers of the development.

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Concerns were raised by local people about the appearance of the buildings, which one consultee described as an "ugly, disproportionate monstrosity".

Planning officers said it was "regrettable" that efforts to further reduce the harmful impacts of the scale of the development had been unsuccessful, but ultimately deemed the benefits of the scheme to outweigh these concerns. 

Angel Yard cohousing group said they "welcomed the recommendation for approval", but they are to face further challenges even if the scheme is granted planning permission. 

The building of the development is expected to cost more than £6m, a bill for which they hope to secure a grant from Homes England. 

Norwich City Council will consider the proposals at a meeting on Thursday.