'Stunning' former Tesco building to become flats

A former department store and Tesco will be turned into city centre flats after plans for a hotel were dropped.

Since the supermarket closed in May 2022, the building on Guildhall Hill in Norwich has stood empty.

Planning permission had been secured to turn it into a hotel – possibly a Travelodge – but earlier this year it was bought by developers ALB Group, which said it wanted to convert the "stunning building" into apartments.

The city council has now approved proposals for 28 flats, with the ground floor set to remain as a retail space.

Once the Chamberlin & Sons department store, the building on Guildhall Hill was most recently a Tesco Metro.

Travelodge was 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 transforming the city's former Wilko and Poundland stores into apartments – said it had bought the property.

With its plans now approved by the council, the firm said the one-bed apartments would be aimed at "young professionals".

Meanwhile a new commercial unit, which will back onto Pottergate, will be added to the ground floor retail space.

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"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."

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