New container market is 'vibrant part of city'

A new outdoor market made up of dozens of refitted shipping containers could "drive a huge amount of footfall" to part of Norwich, a councillor says.

St Saviour's Yard – which has space for retailers, food traders and artists - has been set-up while the Anglia Square shopping centre is redeveloped.

Carli Harper, Norwich City Council's cabinet member for finance and major projects, said it was a "new, vibrant part of Norwich" that would offer extra space for business and retail.

Martin Schmierer, a Green Party councillor, said he wished the new businesses "every success", but he was worried the additional shopping site could disrupt the city's "retail hierarchy".

St Saviour's Yard, which was originally due to open in the autumn, is made up of 63 container units in the former council car park on Magdalen Street.

The council said 60 of them had tenants and 26 were now open for business.

Schmierer added: "What I fear is that we've, in effect, got a second market being created and it is going to draw businesses that would otherwise be very successful at Norwich Market."

Harper said St Saviour's Yard was much needed to attract more people to Magdalen Street whilst the years-long redevelopment of Anglia Square took place.

She said there had been 500 applications for its units "and we've got a waiting list for our market".

"I want to make sure that we can create space for as many new start-ups, as many entrepreneurial businesses as possible," she added.

"I think St Saviour's Yard is going to drive a huge amount of footfall and I think that can only benefit everyone," she said.

Kiera Morel, owner of Crafty Llama, a previously online-only knitting and crochet retailer, said this was the first opportunity to open a physical store for her company.

"These are really affordable spaces that I think give small businesses a chance that we wouldn't otherwise get," she explained.

Toby Westgarth, who has a real ale stall called Sir Toby's Beers on Norwich Market, is another business owner opening in the park.

He felt the container park would not pose a threat for the city's traditional shopping area, adding: "There's a good bit of distance between the two, so I would like to think the two can coexist."

However, traders in shops on Magdalen Street felt less positive about the development.

Stuart Willimott, from Carmichaels Darts and Trophies, said the market was "a good idea if it was elsewhere and it didn't take up all the car parking spaces needed down here".

Albert Hawes, from Now-N-Then antiques shop, felt the council should have had "a proper launch day" for the container park when more businesses were ready to open.

"I'd have had everybody ready to go, with entertainment going on," he explained.

"[But] I really do hope it works out - I'm quite excited to have more people down here," he added.

Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.