Major homes plan for factory site to move forward

Plans to redevelop a former mustard factory site into a major housing development are set to be revived.

The government's redevelopment agency said it had bought the Carrow Works site in Norwich, which was used by Colman's for more than 160 years.

Homes England said it would be working with the city council to deliver a "thriving neighbourhood" on the eastern outskirts of Norwich.

A plan to build almost 2,000 homes on the site in 2024 collapsed after it was rejected by local councillors.

The Carrow Works site has sat empty since 2020, when Colman's owner Unilever moved production away from Norfolk.

Three years earlier, Britvic announced it would stop making Robinsons drinks at the factory.

The 42-acre (17-hectare) site was later identified as part of the East Norwich Strategic Regeneration Area, where the city council said 3,500 homes could be built.

But plans for 1,859 homes were turned down two years ago, with concerns including a lack of affordable housing.

Homes England said it had now bought the site, but has not revealed how much it paid.

Chief regional delivery officer, Alison Crofton, said the organisation would work with Norwich City Council "to turn this complex brownfield site into a thriving neighbourhood".

The move by Homes England comes after the agency provided money for the council to buy Anglia Square, which is now being redeveloped.

Carli Harper, the Labour councillor responsible for major projects, described the Carrow Works deal as "a major game-changer".

"We are going to work at pace with Homes England to help deliver top-quality homes, many of which will be affordable," she said.

Lucy Galvin, leader of the main opposition group – the Greens – welcomed the news, but said she wanted "clear answers on what will actually be delivered".

She said she wanted to know if the homes would be for rent and how much that would cost.

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