City centre square reopens after months of setbacks

Hay Hill has been transformed into what the council described as a "public garden"

A city centre square has shown off its £3.2m transformation to the public after months of delays.

Hay Hill in Norwich closed in April 2023 for landscaping work, new planting and the removal of sculptures, and was initially expected to be ready again by January.

The reopening was hit by delays to specialist stonework from Portugal, and a "complicated" dispute between the city council and the county council-commissioned contractors, city council leader Michael Stonard said.

"We've got there and I think it's fantastic, and I think people are going to love it; it's a great addition to the city's open spaces," he told BBC Radio Norfolk.

The Sir Thomas Browne statue is now a focal point of the space

"It's hard to imagine [what it would look like] when the construction is going on - you've got to see it when the fences are down and in use," he added.

"It's a wonderful space to take a rest, eat your lunch, whatever it might be."

The city council said the existing mature trees had been complemented by new planting.

The altered layout includes extra seating, level access and a new focal point created by water features and the relocated statue of the local physician, philosopher and polymath Sir Thomas Browne.

An ice cream stand which has operated from the base of Hay Hill for many years has been given a newly-constructed kiosk as part of the revamp.

The Homage to Sir Thomas Browne sculptures, previously located on Hay Hill, have been moved to Eaton Park.