Impact of shopping revamp is being mitigated, says council

The Anglia Square shopping complex has been out of bounds for most of the summer

A city council has insisted it is trying to mitigate the effect on local businesses after the closure of a shopping centre and car parks.

Anglia Square in Norwich is due to be demolished to make way for a new retail and food container village made up of refitted shipping containers.

Car parks nearest to Magdalen Street have shut ahead of the planned works and businesses there say they have noted a drop in footfall.

Carli Harper, Norwich City Council's Labour cabinet member for major projects, said shoppers would "come roaring back" to the area once the container village opened.

"Inevitably there is going to be some disruption, it's one of the biggest projects in this part of the city for a very long time," she said.

"There is going to be some impact and we are doing our best to mitigate that."

An artist's impression has already been released showing how part of the container village could look

Botolph Street car park, which adjoins Anglia Square, has been boarded up for several weeks and a large car park next to Magdalen Street - which will be the site of the new St Saviour' s Yard - is out of bounds.

Harper said she sympathised with affected businesses and pledged to meet with traders about their concerns.

She said alternative parking spaces were available nearby, with the council also revamping St Crispin's car park.

The council says there has been 400 expressions of interest for the 80 shipping containers being installed - which Harper says is "phenomenal".

"We have finally got this under way and I know this can't come soon enough for some people," she said.