Controversial plan approved to demolish council HQ

South Norfolk House has been empty for three years

A former council headquarters will be demolished despite strong opposition to the plans.

South Norfolk Council's planning committee decided on Wednesday that South Norfolk House, in Long Stratton, could be torn down.

The building was previously home to the council's offices, but has sat empty since the authority relocated to the edge of Norwich.

Local people felt the site should be repurposed and one local Labour councillor said "this is a disgrace".

South Norfolk House opened in 1979 and was designed by Michael Innes, the architect behind Norwich's Castle Quarter and the redesign of Norwich Market, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The council agreed to sell the building to its own housing development company, Big Sky, after it moved to a new office at Broadland Business Park in 2022 - which it shares with Broadland District Council.

The deal stalled, as campaigners tried and failed to give the building protection from demolition through listed status.

Long Stratton Town Council - which also opposed the demolition - said "it could be repurposed to provide much needed infrastructure".

South Norfolk District Council leader Daniel Elmer said delays in demolishing the building had cost hundreds of thousands of pounds

Daniel Elmer, the Conservative council leader, said the authority had spent about £660,000 on utility costs, insurance fees and business rates since the building was vacated.

Speaking at the meeting, residents argued the building was not old enough to be knocked down and was needed as a community centre in the fast-growing town.

Paul Rochester said: "We feel we have been ignored and overlooked throughout this process.

"This project risks creating a derelict and fenced-off void in the heart of Long Stratton, and a scar on our community."

Labour's Georgina Race said: "I think this is a disgrace. This building is too important to demolish.

"We will never be able to get the likes of this in the heart of the town again.

"It was meant to be a jewel in south Norfolk's crown and now it is being torn down."

Long Stratton is a growing town, with plans already in the works for an extra 1,800 homes

The committee also heard complaints the proposals had not been discussed more openly and councillors were interrupted by shouts of "shame on you" from the public.

Councillors were considering whether the demolition required prior approval.

The majority voted against this, meaning that planning permission is not required for demolition and works can get under way soon.

The council has already set aside £370,000 to pay for demolition and the site is expected to be redeveloped for housing.