Final shop leaves Anglia Square ahead of demolition

Anglia Square, adjoining offices and a multi-storey car park will all be dismantled

The owner of the last shop standing in the near-empty Anglia Square said it felt "really strange" to serve his final customers ahead of its demolition.

The ageing shopping centre in Norwich has gradually emptied since the city council was given a tight deadline to flatten the area ahead of any future redevelopment.

Ernie's Zero Waste shop - which sells refills of foods and cleaning products - closed on Thursday, with only a cafe remaining until it makes its last cuppa on Saturday.

"Reality has hit - it will be closed, soon it will all be boarded up and then knocked down," said Ernie's owner, Graham Rutherford.

So what are the plans for this corner of Norwich - and how do shoppers feel about the loss of Anglia Square?

'It feels a bit strange'

Graham Rutherford said he wanted to stay in the NR3 area, but was yet to find a suitable shop space

Built in the 1960s, Anglia Square once boasted a cinema - which hosted the premiere of Alan Patridge's Alpha Papa - and a range of high street names, independent and charity shops.

Rumblings about redevelopment have hung over the square for decades, with the most recent scheme withdrawn last year after a long-running wrangle with planning and a public inquiry.

The city council then bought Anglia Square and was given a deadline of March 2026 to spend £34m in government funding to demolish the site. There are currently no plans in motion for what could take its place.

Ernie's moved into Anglia Square from Magdalen Street in 2021

Mr Rutherford said uncertainty had been part and parcel of having a shop at Anglia Square, and he was yet to find a suitable place to move to within NR3.

"I've really liked it here, it's got a certain charm which I quite enjoy," he added.

"People either love [Anglia Square] or hate it, but I think most of the people who hate it don't come down here or know much about it.

"It feels a bit strange being the last ones, but you can watch everything that's going on, and see people moving out."

He said the square altered when major stores began to leave after the council's demolition plan became known.

"The main ones were the Boots pharmacy next door, that made a big difference to footfall, and then Greggs went a few months ago," he added.

"A lot of people would come here for the Iceland, the QD and Poundland, I don't know where those people now shop - whether they will go into the city.

"There's not much reason to come down here now, but people still are, supporting us and the cafe, coming down to see what's going on and just taking it all in before it closes down.

"Some of the kids from the local school came with their teachers to take pictures, and to then take pictures in a few years' time.

"As they left, they waved goodbye to Anglia Square and gave it three cheers."

'Fond memories'

Chris Hull said he had shopped at Anglia Square for about 30 years

Chris Hull, 73, was among Ernie's final customers.

"I know when Anglia Square first opened it was an award-winning centre; it's clearly a good source of shopping for people north of the city, it's really important to have some of that presence here," he added.

"I do have an affection for it - I think this part of the city has been under-invested over a period of time and that needs to change.

"I have fond memories of meeting friends here, I just hope something good will come in its place."

Anglia Square is mostly made up of closed shops - including the former Iceland store

'Rough and ready'

Kimberely Moore and Tara Sampy hope the new site will be right for the community

Tara Sampy and Kimberley Moore said they liked that they could walk or cycle down to Anglia Square.

"I'm kind of gutted," said Ms Sampy, 52.

"I used to frequent here in the 90s; I was at the art school, and over the years friends have turned shops into galleries.

"There was a different sense of community here, and it's got a very different energy to the city centre."

Ms Moore, 38, said she travelled up from Suffolk in her teens to buy a guitar from a music store, which meant any subsequent trip to Anglia Square felt quite exciting.

"You could get a good bargain; it's always a bit rough and ready and a bit weird.

"You think 'what happened here?' with the architecture, but I hope it now gets better for the community, and they keep the independent shops, keep it local."

'No tourists come here'

Matthew Simpson and Daisy Clelland said they liked the friendliness of Anglia Square

Daisy Clelland and Matthew Simpson, both 28, said they could walk to Anglia Square from their home, and would often drop off things at the charity shops.

"It's going to be interesting what they put in its place," said Miss Clelland.

"It's such an iconic area of the city, it's such a community space - no tourists come here.

"You always bump into someone you know. I think you lose that compassion if its not community-focussed."

"I hope it doesn't become a car park or a block of flats, or take too long," said Mr Simpson.

"It's quite Brutalist. I think making it sleek and modern isn't going to fit in with the atmosphere around here."

'Rivalling Shoreditch'

The council said the St Saviour's Yard shopping area would be available to former traders and new businesses

Meanwhile, plans have been submitted for a shopping area at the car park, near the flyover on Magdalen Street.

It would be made up of 80 shipping containers and become a home for traders who have moved out of Anglia Square, and new businesses.

Known as the Box Park, it aimed to provide "flexible, affordable and practical spaces, tailored to the needs of small businesses, freelancers, traders and creatives" the council said.

Carli Harper, cabinet member for major projects said: "We hope St Saviour's Yard will become a go-to shopping destination and business hub, while we crack on and redevelop Anglia Square.

"Our ambition is for St Saviour's Yard to become a thriving, eclectic shopping and business attraction rivalling similar sites in Shoreditch, Manchester or Bristol."

The city council said work to dismantle Anglia Square would begin on Sunday, after the final traders had moved out.

At some point in June it would move to the demolition phase, starting with an initial "soft strip" of buildings, a spokesman added.