Go-ahead for shoe factory homes despite concerns

15 December 2025

Owen SennittLocal Democracy reporter

News image — Councillors have voted unanimously to turn the former Van Dal factory site in Norwich into 48 new homes

BBC An orange glow of flames is coming from a shoe factory which has a row of houses in front of it. The area is residential with cars parked either side of the road. A police officer in a fluorescent jacket is walking towards the camera and away from the scene. Smoke is billowing into the sky. The photograph has been taken during the dark. — Councillors have voted unanimously to turn the former Van Dal factory site in Norwich into 48 new homes

Residents opposed to plans to turn a former Norwich shoe factory into homes are threatening legal action in a bid to block the scheme.

Norwich City Council's planning committee has unanimously backed a proposal by Flagship Housing to redevelop the former Van Dal shoe factory into 48 homes.

The Dibden Road site was left with 75% of the building damaged following a fire in January.

Planning officers told the meeting the new building would not have a "significant" effect on the area. But the Local Democracy Reporting Service said neighbours in Romany Road expressed concerns the council had not properly assessed the effect the scheme would have on their properties.

They said they felt "fobbed off".

In a statement read out on their behalf by Green councillor Jenny Knight, they said: "Residents are concerned the impact of development on our properties has not been properly assessed.

"Where is the concern for privacy here? This is at the expense of existing residents."

They suggested there could be grounds for a judicial review due to the perceived lack of assessment undertaken.

However, council officers insisted they did study the overlooking and shadowing concerns along Romany Road.

Speaking on behalf of Flagship, Kai Gibbons said the development would provide "much-needed housing" and it would "echo" design elements of the former shoe factory.