Council confirms deal to buy shopping centre

Anglia Square and other buildings in the area had been on the market for £8.5m

A council has confirmed it has bought an ageing shopping centre and surrounding area, where more than 1,000 homes are planned.

Norwich City Council's Labour leader Mike Stonard said the purchase of Anglia Square was "an early Christmas present for the people of Norwich" and that he hoped demolition work could begin by next spring.

The council announced earlier this year that it wanted to buy the complex after a private developer's £300m regeneration plan collapsed.

Stonard said the government had provided funding to buy the site, which also includes office blocks and a multi-storey car park, and had been up for sale for £8.5m.

He said he could not confirm how much had been paid, but that all of the money had come from the housing and regeneration agency Homes England.

"What I can say is that we got a very, very good deal and the government has covered all of the cost of that deal," he said.

Built in 1970, Anglia Square has been in decline since 1990 with many of the shop units now empty

Stonard added that with planning permission already in place for about 1,100 homes, plus shops and leisure space, the council was now looking for a developer to partner with.

Those plans were controversial, as just 10% of housing was designated as affordable, when the council's own policy said the development should have 33%.

Stonard said the authority was now aiming for at least 25% but "could even double" that figure.

Mike Stonard said Anglia Square's traders would be provided with temporary facilities

Green councillor Jamie Osborn, whose Mancroft ward includes Anglia Square, said his party had been pushing the council to buy the site for some time, and he welcomed the news.

"What we really need now is to hold the council to account on making sure there's truly affordable and sufficient housing – the kind Norwich really needs," he said.

He also wanted assurances about the future of businesses based at the centre and said "the council needs to keep people in the loop".

Stonard said the council was talking to traders and that they would be provided with new accommodation nearby that could include a temporary facility, "something akin to a box park".

"We will look after them and we've made that commitment," he added.