Flats for 300 students could be built on top of Norwich city centre car park

A sketch of what the development at the Barn Road car park could look like. Pic: Alumno Group. Alumno Group

The swelling student population of Norwich city centre could be set to expand by a further 300, if plans for a high-rise development on top of a council-owned car park gets the go-ahead.

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The Barn Road car park, where accommodation for 300 students could be built. Pic: Archant. The Barn Road car park, where accommodation for 300 students could be built. Pic: Archant.

Plans are to be lodged for the flats at the Barn Road car park, behind the former Toys R Us store at the bottom of Grapes Hill.

But it would not signal the end of the 147-space pay and display Norwich City Council car park. The development, known as Mulberry Yard, would be built on top of a redesigned, covered car park, still run by City Hall.

The proposals have been put forward by Alumno Group. The London-based company is also behind the student housing for Norwich University of the Arts students built near Norwich bus station and the under-construction Pablo Fanque House for University of East Anglia students in All Saints Green.

Bosses at Alumno said the flats would make use of an “underutilised” city centre site and would help meet the need for student homes.

A view of the Barn Road car park, where accommodation for 300 students could be built, from the bottom of Grapes Hill. Pic: Archant. A view of the Barn Road car park, where accommodation for 300 students could be built, from the bottom of Grapes Hill. Pic: Archant.

David Campbell, managing director at Alumno, said: “This project will redevelop an important entry point to the city centre, re-provide and modernise the existing parking capacity, whilst at the same time providing state of the art modern accommodation for students studying in Norwich.

“Students form an increasingly important part of the fabric and diverse nature of the community in Norwich, and with this development we hope to continue to contribute to that rich vibrancy whilst supporting the local economy.”

Alumno has organised a public exhibition to consult on the plans.

It will be held at the former Harp & Rose antiques shop at 2, Woolgate Court at St Benedicts Street from 1pm until 8pm on Tuesday.

Mr Campbell said: “We look forward to hearing people’s views about our plans later this month, and would encourage everyone living and working locally to come along and tell us what they think.”

People will also be able to view the proposals, and submit comments, on a consultation website which goes live on Tuesday, June 26 at www.mulberry-yard.co.uk

Recent months has seen student flats in St Stephens Towers and St Crispin’s House given the go-ahead by Norwich City Council.