'Stunning' former Tesco building to become flats
Developers say the one-bed apartments will be aimed at young professionals.
'Stunning' former Tesco building to be turned into flats
The building was a Tesco Metro supermarket until 2022
A former department store and Tesco will be converted into city centre flats after plans for a hotel were abandoned.
Since the supermarket shut in May 2022, the building on Guildhall Hill in Norwich has remained vacant.
Planning permission had already been granted to turn it into a hotel – possibly a Travelodge – but earlier this year it was purchased by developers ALB Group, which said it wanted to transform the "stunning building" into apartments.
The city council has now approved plans for 28 flats, while the ground floor will stay as retail space.
Drawings show the second floor being split into ten apartments.
The building on Guildhall Hill was once the Chamberlin & Sons department store and most recently operated as a Tesco Metro.
Travelodge had been expected to redevelop the site, but the company later said it was "not a project we are considering at this time".
In May, Nottingham-based ALB – which is also converting the city's former Wilko and Poundland stores into apartments – said it had bought the property.
Now that its plans have been approved by the council, the firm said the one-bed apartments would be targeted at "young professionals".
A new commercial unit, backing onto Pottergate, will also be added to the ground floor retail area.
"It is so sad when only the ground floor of such a stunning building is used," said Arran Bailey, ALB's managing director.
"Our plan is to breathe life back into the entire building by creating standout apartments," he added.
"We are excited for the future of this landmark building in the heart of the city," he said.
"It is a site that has a long and varied history. Now its future is secured and we are delighted that planners saw the strength in our plans."