Norwich city centre Santander branch getting refurbishment

Restorations will be made to the Santander in Orford Hill which will include refacing the building's facade and fitting the inside with modern shop fittings.

The site is Grade II listed as part of the Bell Hotel and lies within the city centre conservation area so the bank must take special care not to significantly change the building's appearance or character.

The inside of the bank will see minor alterations and changes (Image: Norwich City Council) Under the plans sections of blown plaster throughout the bank will be repainted and the timber windows will be restored to good condition. 

The toilets will also be refurbished with modern floor coverings and the existing skylights will be made watertight to prevent leaks. Worn blinds will be replaced.  

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Because of the minimal changes, the risk of harm to the heritage assets is considered "less than substantial" and may even offer protection against further degradation in the long term.

The building was painted yellow until 2013 when it was changed to white.

A Norwich City Council spokesman said: "The limited harm offered by the proposal is considered to be outweighed by the public benefit of ensuring internal historic features are repaired and maintained to a high standard and damp is mitigated against.

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"Santander will ensure that modern signs and materials are only used with discretion where appropriate to the character of the building and its listed status, as well as ensuring the works are not harmful to the St Stephens conservation area."

The restoration will not cause significant damage to the building's heritage, it has been claimed (Image: Google) Just around the corner, in Castle Street, the former Virgin Money store is set for renovation into a men's clothing store after City Hall permitted British brand Charles Tyrwhitt to move in.

However, illuminated signage proposed for the outside of the shop drew concerns from conservation officers who said it could "detrimentally affect the setting and views of the surrounding area".

Restrictions have been applied on how brightly the signs can be illuminated.