Future of Earlham House in Norwich to be discussed at meeting
The future of Norwich's Earlham House is to be discussed at a meeting set up by the city council tomorrow.
As reported, calls have been made for the council to take action over the troubled complex in Earlham Road that has been blighted by complaints over living conditions and car park pot-holes.
The block of flats and shopping centre was recently put up for sale at �2.35m after the London owners went into receivership.
Nelson ward Green councillors will meet the city portfolio holders for housing and planning, Victoria McDonald and Bert Bremner respectively, and other officials at the meeting, following concerns about the failure of owners to invest in and maintain the property and the sub-standard condition of the flats, which lack any insulation and heating.
Green councillor Denise Carlo said: 'Unfortunately, the Earlham House situation has been made more complex because over the years the property has been broken up into different elements and sold off.
'Ideally, we would like to see the city council compulsory purchase the whole site to bring it into single ownership and then sell it on to a local housing association for refurbishment and long term maintenance.'
Mr Bremner said the meeting would be a chance to brief others about what could be done at the complex.
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'We want to spell out what the problems would be for the council to do anything at the site, and talk about what can realistically be done,' he said.
Earlham House has been the subject of much debate in recent years with long-running battles over the car park and court action over insufficiently heated flats. The leasehold is being sold as a residential investment by the BTC Group.
Are you calling on the council to take action where you live? Call reporter David Bale on 01603 772427 or email david.bale2@archant.co.uk.
