Bid to build more than 300 student flats on Norwich city centre car park

An artist's impression of the St Catherine's Yard development. Pic: Lanpro. Lanpro

More than 300 student flats could be built on a city centre car park - just a stone’s throw away from former Aviva offices being turned into almost 200 apartments.

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An artist's impression of the St Catherine's Yard development. Pic: Lanpro. An artist's impression of the St Catherine's Yard development. Pic: Lanpro.

The developers behind proposals tor 307 student flats, next to Sentinel House in Surrey Street, say it would help meet the demand for city centre student housing.

And they say the new flats would help to free up other homes around the city, which would otherwise be rented out to groups of students.

Developers SCY Student Accommodation Ltd has lodged proposals with Norwich City Council to build a complex called St Catherine’s Yard on the car park which was once used by Aviva workers at Sentinel House.

The car-free development would consist of 266 single bedrooms and 41 studios.

The complex would vary in height from four to eight storeys.

Jane Crichton, associate planner for the applicant’s agents Lanpro, said: “The development of purpose built, professionally managed student accommodation allows students a greater choice and reduces reliance on renting family housing, often in the Golden Triangle.

“This development will go some way towards meeting the evidenced need for student accommodation across Norwich to meet the future growth in the City’s education establishments.

“The applicant and the Lanpro design team believes redevelopment of the site will bring vibrancy and social benefits to this area of the city centre.”

Earlier this year, the go-ahead was given for neighbouring Sentinel House, last used as offices by Aviva in 2015, to be turned into 199 apartments.

Recent years have seen a spate of developments which will swell the number of people living in the city centre.

The nine-storey All Saints Green complex opened near the bus station in 2015, with space for more than 200 Norwich University of the Arts students.

The scheme’s developers, Alumno, are now working on a 244-bed tower, known as The Quad, on the site of the former Mecca Bingo site in All Saints Green.

And, in July, a £45m revamp to turn St Stephens Towers, formerly offices for Aviva, into homes for more than 700 students.

Norwich City Council will make a decision on the latest application in due course.