Almost 120 Norwich garages to be knocked down to make way for new homes

Plans to demolish almost 120 garages in Norwich to make way for homes have been given the green light.

As reported in the Evening News, Norwich City Council has earmarked 965 garages to be bulldozed so housing associations can build affordable homes.

The council says more than a third of the 4,368 garages it owns around Norwich are empty, and at a time when the city's population is growing, it makes sense for them to make way for new homes.

As part of a multi-million pound deal with the Homes and Communities Agency, the council is selling the sites to Orwell Housing Association to build affordable homes.

At a meeting of the city council's planning committee yesterday, councillors sealed the fate of three sets of garages in Mile Cross.

They granted permission for 75 garages in Bowers Avenue to be demolished to make way for seven houses and eight flats; for five houses and three flats to replace 28 garages in Sleaford Green; and for 16 garages in Vale Green to be knocked down so two houses and six flats can be built.

They also agreed 12 homes could be built on a pay and display car park off Orchard Street, despite objections from people who work in nearby businesses.